New appointments at BCS Prime Brokerage, Societe Generale, Paul Hastings and more.

We bring you our choices for the best-performing financial-services players across the region.

Jeff Singer, CEO of the Dubai International Financial Centre, tells Tim Burke about plans for growth and the innovations he believes would let the Middle East’s capital markets thrive.

After several years of rapid growth, shariah-compliant asset management is facing the first serious test of its young life, as it struggles to diversify from equity and property into new areas, writes Eva-Luise Schwarz.

Banks are hoping to follow Barclays’ lead and raise capital through the disposal of asset and wealth management divisions. But who is buying?

HSBC’s new head of international banking, Tony Mahoney, tells emeafinance’s editor Julian Evans the bank is ready for a “substantial move” into Central & Eastern Europe (CEE).

Having been caught in a blizzard of media and regulatory attention in the first half of 2008, sovereign wealth funds are taking steps to try and improve their public image, including agreeing to a voluntary code of conduct in September, reports Julian Evans.

The American lending company QuickCashLoans specializing in providing short term loans to US citizens has implemented an online loan application form.c 

Egypt’s reformist government is grappling with the dilemma of fighting inflation while cutting a growing deficit. However, in the capital markets, Egyptian companies are expanding and becoming MENA regional champions. Julian Evans reports from Cairo.

With over 20 new MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa funds set up in the last 18 months, are African stocks getting over-valued? Julian Evans reports.

AED650mn deal could see Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank gain 110,000 new customers.

The senior management team at South Africa’s Investec Asset Management has agreed to take a 15% stake in the business in a £180mn (US$268mn) partial management buyout from the Investec group.

The deal will see chief executive officer Hendrik du Toit and 39 other Investec Asset Management employees take the stake using £90mn of equity funding and £90mn of debt from HSBC and the Investec group.

The management team will also have the right to buy a further 5% of the business during the next seven years, with other employees invited to join the team for any further transaction.