Lebanon has faced four years of violence, civil strife, assassinations and war. And yet its economy and banking sector grow stronger each year, reports Julian Evans from Beirut.
Political Risk
Lebanon’s destiny has often been closely interwoven with that of its larger neighbour, Syria. Indeed, for 15 years, from the end of the civil war until 2005, the Syrian government would simply hand over to the Lebanese prime minister a list of which ministers it wanted in the Lebanese government, according to some reports.
In August 2008, the Saudi Arabian stock market finally opened up to foreign investors. After a slow start, volumes are now tripling monthly, and investment banks are racing into the country to position themselves in the new market.
For the second time in 12 years, Russian investment banks have gone from dizzying boom to disastrous bust. How will they fare in the post-crisis world, asks Geoffrey Smith.
As international business continues its steady stream into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area, growth in the region’s insurance markets is accelerating, writes Kevin Godier.
In March, Georgia’s Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze told emeafinance that the issue of the separatist provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia would be resolved “in the next few months”....
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.
Foreign investors are worried by the prospect of Jacob Zuma becoming the president of South Africa next year. But what changes is he likely to bring, and how will they affect the economy, asks Tim Cohen in Johannesburg.
Saudi Arabia has been pegged to the dollar since 1986. But the kingdom is coming under more and more pressure to de-peg in order to tackle domestic inflation.
The real estate projects in Dubai get ever bigger and more extravagant. But an investigation into corruption and concerns over liquidity are threatening the market’s image. Will Rankin and Julian Evans report.
In August, the first war for a decade took place in Europe, as Russia invaded Georgian territory. Since then, Russia has faced its worst financial crisis since the 1998 debt default. emeafinance editor Julian Evans looks at the economic costs for Russia of its military adventure in Georgia.