Ghana has a relatively active banking sector, with 27 universal banks, 135 rural banks and 49 non-bank financial institutions, including leasing firms, mortgage providers, and savings and loan institutions. The contribution of the banking and insurance sectors to GDP has risen steadily in recent years, from 2.7% of GDP in 2006 to 5.2% in 2010. Deposits have also been on the rise, increasing from...
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Economic update | Thailand: Looking to bond
29 Aug 2012
The government is looking to tap the bond market to make up its budgetary shortfall for this year and launch more debt offers to fund its ambitious infrastructure programme. Pricing could be an issue, however, with concerns that uncertainty over the European financial crisis could cause ripples in Asian economies and push up borrowing costs.
Economic update | Qatar: Targeting capital markets
27 Aug 2012
Capital markets in Qatar should receive a boost from recently announced reforms that clarify oversight, broaden access and simplify transactions. Through such measures, the authorities and the private sector are hoping to increase liquidity and activity in a market considered to have significant potential.
Islamic financial products, first authorised by the Omani government in 2011, are set to take off later this year, with the banking, real estate and insurance sectors all expected to see benefits. However, competition is also forecast to increase as both sharia-compliant and conventional banks vie for customers.
Economic update | Dubai: Bank provisioning
22 Aug 2012
The emirate’s banking sector is still working to shake off the lingering effects of the global financial crisis, with lenders having to make higher provisions for debts than some of their neighbours who were less encumbered when the global economy went into decline.
