Iran accuses US of paying opposition to topple regime
TEHRAN: Iran's electoral watchdog accused the United States of giving opposition leaders $1 billion to topple the Islamic regime and promising them another $50 billion, reports said Wednesday. The head…
Saudi cleric calls for Muslim maids only
RIYADH: A Saudi cleric said only Muslim housemaids should be allowed in the oil-rich country and they should be kept segregated from men in the home, an online news site…
Egypt gains, EFG sees possible rally
CAIRO: Egypt's benchmark index rose for a sixth day, with EFG-Hermes saying market conditions are ripe for a short-term rally. The index gained 0.5 percent to close at 6,226 points.…
Gazans want “Marshall Plan”, Israel policy falls short
GAZA: Wael El Wadiah's Gaza snack food factories once employed 250 people. Today, denied access to the West Bank market by Israel, he employs a few dozen workers in what…
Actis moves into payment card industry with MSCC buy-out
“We believe that e-payment will be the next big thing in Africa,” said Hossam Abou Moussa, investment principle at Actis, a private equity firm specializing in emerging markets. Actis announced…
Experts forecast steady performance for Egypt banks
“The Egyptian banking sector’s performance in mirrors the strong fundamentals and the vast liquidity of the sector, which has…allowed Egypt to safely navigate through the global turmoil,” Sherif Khalil, head…
Mobinil Q2 net profit falls 29 pct
CAIRO: Egypt's Mobinil posted a fall in second-quarter net profit to LE 381 million, adding far fewer subscribers than its main rival, blaming the regulatory and competitive environment. "We still…
Room for growth in Mideast private equity
Private equity in the Middle East is emerging stronger and smarter from the financial crisis, finds a new report co-authored by INSEAD and Booz & Company. The report, entitled “Private…
Natural gas could lead to new Lebanon-Israel war
BEIRUT: The discovery of large natural gas reserves under the waters of the eastern Mediterranean could potentially mean a huge economic windfall for Israel and Lebanon, both resource-poor nations —…
What do stress tests on European banks have to do with MENA?
Before we discuss what stress tests for European banks are and why they were conducted — as well as why they matter for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)…