Could UAE tap US currency swap line as Iran war strains Gulf economies? The Gulf country apparently wanted reassurances from Washington in case its economy is severely damaged by the Iran war. United Arab Emirates
Why are Wall Street banks posting record profits amid Iran war? The US-Israel-Iran war has roiled the global economy since Feb. 28, but the resulting market volatility has boosted trading profits for some. Iran
Analysis Ceasefire without relief: How Iranians are grappling with post-war repression Despite the ceasefire, pressure is mounting inside Iran: arrests are rising, the internet remains largely shut down, and millions face deep economic uncertainty. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Iran names US tech, finance firms in new Middle East threat list Firms listed as potential targets included Oracle, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Meta, IBM, Palantir and Nvidia, while banking giant JPMorgan and UAE-based AI firm G42 were also listed. Iran
Analysis Iran war tests Gulf dealmaking as foreign investors assess risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis How long can markets hold their bet on Gulf resilience as war drags on? By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Group of 32 states to release 400M barrels of oil reserves: What to know By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Is debt answer to Middle East economic troubles? The forecast for growth across the Middle East and North Africa is bleak. Unfortunately for the regions, heavy debt appears to be one way out. Saudi Arabia
How Iran’s 'justice shares' impede state divestment from the economy The Iranian government’s "justice share" scheme has impeded divestment of state involvement in the economy, further complicating efforts to institute genuine privatization. Iran
Why the Iranian government must modernize its cash management system The Rouhani administration ought to modernize its cash management with a Treasury Single Account to combat corrupt practices, eliminate a lack of discipline in public finance and ensure adequate fund flow to critical sectors of the economy. Iran
What’s in store for Turkish economy after local polls? Once Turkey’s March 31 local elections are over, Ankara is expected to focus on restoring the confidence of foreign investors — an uphill task that will require bitter pills to redress economic balances. Turkey
Egypt’s Eastern Company listed 4.5% of shares on stock market The Eastern Company’s public offering, which resulted in Saudi investors buying 25% of the listing worth $23 million, raises questions about illicit profits within the government. Saudi Arabia
Profiteering, smuggling push Iran to consider ‘electronic’ food stamps Rampant profiteering and smuggling are forcing Iranian authorities to move toward a revamped system of direct subsidies for essential goods. Iran
Egypt’s first sovereign wealth fund to tap unused assets Egypt recently announced the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund aimed at managing the state’s unused assets to promote development and investment projects. Egypt
Will latest interest rate hike break Tunisia’s back? Following Tunisia's third interest rate hike in 12 months, economic and political experts sound the alarm on shrinking purchasing power while the nation's largest trade union calls for protests. Tunisia
Refusing funds will cost Palestinians, perhaps Israel Several sectors will be affected by the Palestinian Authority’s decision to reject on principle a reduced transfer of tax funds from Israel. Palestine
Iran’s central bank under pressure to print money, weaken rial To cover the budget deficit, Iran’s lawmakers are seeking to force the central bank to print money. If they are successful, they will likely end up making life more difficult for average Iranians. Iran
As sanctions loom, Syria looks to retrieve funds from abroad Damascus wants the country's banks to develop incentives to bring Syrian funds back, especially those deposited in Lebanese banks. Lebanon
Can bitcoins save Hamas from its financial crisis? The armed wing of Hamas in the Gaza Strip announced that it has started accepting donations in bitcoin in a new attempt to overcome its financial crises. Palestine
