Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



GCC Urged to Tackle Inflation
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 18 - 03 - 2008

Arabian Gulf governments were urged on Sunday by leading economic experts to make tackling inflation a core target of monetary policy - a move that could bring into question the continued pegging of currencies to the US dollar.
In spite of positive indications that Middle East markets are avoiding serious impact from a global slowdown so far, “there is uncertainty in the markets that needs to be addressed one way or the other,” said Christian Mouchbahani, Middle East and North Africa CEO of investment bank and institutional securities firm Jefferies.
“Inflation needs to be tackled and it is not clear that channeling liquidity into real estate and stock markets will be enough,” he said at the 3rd Middle East IPO Summit at the Intercontinental Hotel here during a discussion by a panel of economic experts on the state of the regional equity capital markets.
By pegging their currencies to the dollar, most Gulf governments have, in effect, delegated monetary policy to the US Federal Reserve, Mouchbahani added. “It is a very sensitive situation and that's why the central banks are hesitant. But pegging to the dollar is further accelerating inflation and making it a difficult environment for commercial banks,” he said.
Mouchbahani and other speakers agreed that there are many positive factors favouring the regional economies including higher oil prices, liquidity and investment levels. The immediate need was for careful management.
“Like our panelists, most regional analysts have a bullish outlook for the IPO market. Additionally, in the UAE, upcoming changes in regulations are expected to bring more floats of family-owned businesses,” said Deep Marwaha, Head of Capital Markets and Investment for IIR Middle East, organizers of the IPO Summit.
“In the meantime, market momentum is expected to be sustained by improving corporate profits, robust growth in regional economies, increasing revenue from higher oil prices and an inflow of foreign funds seeking returns unavailable elsewhere.
“Global events that have nothing to do with the region impact performance here as the doors are opened to foreign investors. Above all there is a need for reduced volatility. In the current environment people want to know what the risks are.” __


Clic here to read the story from its source.