Economy and trade

Turkey steps up ties with Palestinian Authority

Turkey and the Palestinian Authority have signed new agreements, indicating Ankara intends to broaden official dealings with the PA, but limit its financial assistance to the Gaza Strip to relief agencies.

Palestine

Iranians mob money changers to sell dollars as rial jumps

Iranians rushed to money changers in several cities to sell their "home-kept" dollars as their national currency started to regain value.

Iran

How the Rouhani administration can contain excess liquidity

In the absence of genuine reforms that will allow the adoption of more prudent fiscal, monetary and foreign currency policies, the Iranian economy will remain structurally crisis-ridden.

Iran

Egypt’s stock market faces fluctuations over manipulation case

A move to charge prominent investors, including sons of former President Hosni Mubarak, with stock market violations, has rattled the Egyptian Exchange, which was already on edge due to US trade policies and rising interest rates.

Egypt

Palestinian Authority, Jordan work to boost economic ties

Palestinian and Jordanian ministers plan to hold intensive meetings in the next few months to tackle several issues related to joint trade cooperation between the two countries.

Palestine

Why Turkey’s new economic program failed to impress

The Turkish government’s hallmark rejection of self-criticism affects consistency and realism in its diagnoses of economic woes and the remedies it plans.

Turkey

Is Jordan ready to normalize ties with Syria?

Syrian and Jordanian officials are in technical talks about reopening their border for trade purposes, but analysts have noted Amman's wariness about normalizing relations for fear of its possible effect on relations with its Arab and Gulf allies.

Jordan

Can Tunisia handle public sector strike?

While the Central Bank of Tunisia recommends taking exceptional measures to deal with the alarming economic situation by imposing new rules on banks to measure the ability to meet their engagements, there is fear the country could go bankrupt especially as labor unions are threatening to go on strike.

Tunisia

Palestine stock exchange defies all odds

The Palestine Securities Exchange (PEX) announced profits of around $167 million in the first half of 2018; however, the general economic situation in Palestine is going downhill.

Palestine

Will Egypt get handle on its public debt?

Parliamentary committees are making noise about plans to address Egypt's public debt, in part by establishing mechanisms to optimize the use of loans and grants.

Egypt

What rial devaluation means for Iranian government

While the devaluation of the rial has had a negative impact on Iranian society, it has the potential to help key economic players — including the government and the Central Bank — to gain a new and sustainable balance in their finances.

Iran

Surging prices may push Iran's housing sector back into recession

While property prices in Iran have jumped following turmoil across the economy, the sector is headed for another recession as the number of actual deals is dropping.

Iran