The region’s exchanges have operated in adverse economic conditions since the decline of oil prices began in the second half of 2014, and the Bahrain Bourse is no exception. However, the apparent stabilisation of global oil prices in 2016 has brought a similar firming of the main index and, after a year of shrinking stock prices, some increasingly attractive valuations. The larger story of...
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Chapter | Capital Markets from The Report: Bahrain 2017
Bahrain’s banking sector has managed two years of a challenging low oil-price environment without seeing significant deterioration in its financial stability indicators. Conventional lenders and Islamic financiers operating within the kingdom’s famously robust regulatory framework have also managed to maintain profitability throughout this period thanks to efficiency drives and continued...
Bahrain has embarked on a reworking of its subsidy framework in a bid to ease the budgetary pressures associated with the fall in oil prices. Meanwhile, the government is also pushing forward with diversification efforts, with the kingdom’s $32bn investment strategy fuelling activity in various areas of the economy.
Articles & Analysis | Securities & Investment Company Oman banking market analysis from The Report: Oman 2017
The Omani banking sector comprises a total of 16 conventional banks, of which seven are locally incorporated and nine are foreign. Conventional banks in Oman have a network of 468 branches and 1088 ATMs. Alongside conventional lenders, there are also two fully fledged Islamic banks that together have a market share of around 10% by assets....
Articles & Analysis | Securities & Investment Company Oman's insurance sector equities analysis from The Report: Oman 2017
Oman’s insurance market is highly competitive and fragmented, with a total of 22 insurance companies. Of these, 11 are local with the other 11 being branches of foreign insurers. The industry expanded at a robust rate of 12% per annum between 2010 and 2014, with total gross written premiums reaching $1bn by the end of the period. The sector is...
Articles & Analysis | Securities & Investment Company Oman bond market analysis from The Report: Oman 2017
In 2016 Oman joined several other governments and companies in the GCC in tapping the international bond market. The main purpose of the issue was to fund the large budget deficits created as a result of the major decline in oil prices. According to Moody’s, revenues from oil and gas in Oman contributed to around 87% of total government...