Bindu Rai

1 week ago | zawya.com | Bindu Rai

The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran will likely hit business confidence in the GCC region, according to the latest geopolitical risk report by S&P Global Ratings, while analysts have warned of a trickle-down effect that could impact the region’s IPO pipeline and put valuations at risk. While no IPO has been delayed since the conflict escalated last week, analysts are braced for choppy markets.

2 weeks ago | zawya.com | Bindu Rai

JP Morgan has appointed former UK country head Claude Kurzo as its new Head of Middle East for its asset management division, effective immediately. Kurzo joined JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) in 2012 and has held senior leadership roles in London, New York and Zurich, including Global Head of Strategy, Country Head Switzerland and Country Head UK. Before joining JPMAM, Kurzo worked for McKinsey in the Middle East and Switzerland.

3 weeks ago | zawya.com | Bindu Rai

GCC markets will enter the summer period buoyed by the debut of the Dubai Residential REIT on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) last week, a $584 million IPO that closed at 14% on its day one trade. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s upcoming Flynas and Specialized Medical Company (SMC) IPOs are expected to inject fresh energy into a market weighed down by the listing of United Carton Industries Co. (UCIC), which closed 1.5% lower last week than on its debut trade.

1 month ago | zawya.com | Bindu Rai

Shares of Saudi Arabia’s United Carton Industries Company (UCIC) closed flat on Tuesday’s trading debut, with tariff threats, along with profit booking and overstretched valuations turning away investors, according to analysts. Despite being nine times oversubscribed and raising proceeds to the tune of 600 million Saudi Arabian riyals ($160 million), the stock closed lower by 1.5% at 49.25 riyals per share, as against its offer price of 50 riyals.

1 month ago | zawya.com | Bindu Rai

In the aftermath of the global turmoil unleashed by the Trump tariffs last month, GCC ECM transactions will retain their momentum but with a possible shrinkage in size, according to Samer Deghaili, HSBC’s Co-Head of Capital Markets & Advisory, MENAT. “I am positive we will see more ECM issuance this year in terms of numbers [compared to 2024],” Deghaili told Zawya.