Wednesday 28 October 2015

Where does Britain draw the line with Saudi Arabia and China? | World news | The Guardian

Where does Britain draw the line with Saudi Arabia and China? | World news | The Guardian:

"Did you notice that the Saudi ambassador to London has stamped his foot to warn that relations between our two countries may suffer if we don’t stop talking about them in the abusive tone recently adopted?

You can see Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz’s point. Up to a point anyway. The British establishment has spent most of the past week kowtowing to Xi Jinping, authoritarian president of nominally communist China, a regime whose past excesses against its own people makes the House of Saud look like a coven of Guardian readers. Kowtow is a Chinese word, I seem to remember – not necessarily pejorative either.

But governments all over the world have to deal with people they don’t approve of. I wouldn’t be surprised if Saudis and Chinese who know their history don’t harbour a few reservations about pasty-faced Europeans who have done them harm in the past. It doesn’t stop them using some of their spare cash to buy up swaths of Britain."



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Last post sounds the end of the ArabianMoney website « ArabianMoney

Last post sounds the end of the ArabianMoney website « ArabianMoney:

"This is the last post ever on the ArabianMoney website, ‘a sad indictment on the digital era’ as Frank Kane very kindly wrote in The National (click here). But we would rather go out on an optimistic note and have been singing the praises of what ought to replace this site, the ‘Dubai Financial Review’, a multimedia website to serve as the ‘Financial Times’ or ‘Wall Street Journal’ of the Dubai financial sector (click here).

Looking back this website started its life as the editor and publisher’s personal blog in early 2008. In May 2010, as the dust cleared from the Global Financial Crisis and Great Recession, the blog converted into a commercial website with a paid-for subscription newsletter."



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MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi stabilises but Gulf mostly weak | Reuters

MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi stabilises but Gulf mostly weak | Reuters:

"Gulf stock markets mostly fell on
Wednesday amid concern over weak oil prices, but Saudi Arabia
regained some stability after a plunge on the previous day
caused by fears that the government would tighten fiscal policy
considerably.

The Saudi index had sunk 3.0 percent on Tuesday
after the oil minister confirmed the government was considering
whether to raise domestic energy prices - one of several steps
that it may take next year to reduce a huge budget deficit
caused by low oil prices.

On Wednesday, the index slipped as low as 6,991 points
during the day but closed up 0.3 percent at 7,118 points. It has
technical support at its August low of 6,921 points."



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The Grim Economic Legacy of the #ArabSpring Poster Children - Bloomberg Business

The Grim Economic Legacy of the Arab Spring Poster Children - Bloomberg Business:

"A cry for economic inclusion and social justice sparked uprisings in 2010 and 2011 that spread across North Africa and the Middle East. But what happened to Tunisia and Egypt, where the protests originated and delivered, at least on paper, the semblance of political change?
In six charts, we answer that question. "



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Saudi Wealth Fund Said to Seek Bankers in Global Deals - Bloomberg Business

Saudi Wealth Fund Said to Seek Bankers in Global Deals - Bloomberg Business:

"Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is seeking to hire bankers for international deals to help the kingdom acquire overseas technology and expertise, four people with knowledge of the matter said.
The sovereign wealth fund, which holds about $100 billion worth of stakes in local companies, is looking to appoint Saudi nationals with experience at both local and international investment banks, the people said, asking not to be identified as the talks are private. The hires will help the fund make strategic acquisitions in industries including transport, manufacturing and technology that will give Saudi Arabia access to foreign expertise and know-how, according to the people.
The PIF holds the government’s stakes in companies including Saudi Basic Industries Corp., the world’s second-biggest chemicals manufacturer, and National Commercial Bank, the Middle East’s second-largest lender. Yasir Al Rumayyan, former chief executive officer at Credit Agricole-backed Saudi Fransi Capital and now an adviser to the Royal Court, is driving recruitment and the PIF’s push overseas, according to three of the people."



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The Oil Market May Need Until 2016 for Iran Supply Boost - Bloomberg Business

The Oil Market May Need Until 2016 for Iran Supply Boost - Bloomberg Business:

"Iran’s crude exports are likely to remain restricted until the first half of next year, when it’s “reasonable” to expect international sanctions against the OPEC producer to be lifted, according to a U.S. government official.
Overseas shipments will probably stay at 1 million to 1.1 million barrels a day until the terms of a deal between Iran and world powers over the Persian Gulf state’s nuclear program are implemented, allowing sanctions to be lifted, said Amos Hochstein, special envoy and coordinator for international energy affairs at the U.S. Department of State. The U.S. is keeping a “very close” watch on Iranian oil exports, he said in an interview in Singapore.
Iran is preparing to increase shipments at a time when crude prices are near six-year lows amid a global glut sparked by the U.S. shale boom. The Middle East producer, which was the second-biggest supplier in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries before sanctions curbed its exports, has vowed to retake market share it lost to producers including Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Russia."



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MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf edges down on oil, Saudi concerns | Reuters

MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf edges down on oil, Saudi concerns | Reuters:

"Gulf stock markets edged down in early trade on Wednesday because of weak oil prices and concern about the region's biggest market, Saudi Arabia, which sank 3 percent on Tuesday after the oil minister said domestic energy prices might be raised.

The Dubai index dropped 0.5 percent after 45 minutes of trade. Second-tier property stocks remained soft after Deyaar reported on Monday that third-quarter profit dropped; Deyaar shares slipped a further 1.3 percent and Union Properties lost 1.6 percent.

Abu Dhabi edged down 0.1 percent, although the 10 most heavily traded stocks moved little and were roughly evenly split between gainers and losers."



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A ripening Apple | Authers' Note - YouTube

A ripening Apple | Authers' Note - YouTube: ""



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