Market Insights & Strategy

27 March 2025

Our weekly analysis offering a strategic outlook for the coming week, along with key macro themes and trends impacting the GCC & Egypt region. The report also includes a recap on the past week, as well as a summary of the key data releases and macro events in the week ahead; along with macro chart packs covering the MENA & Global Markets.

Simon Ballard, Chief Economist
Almaha Al Nuaimi, Analyst

24 March 2025

Various factors have been behind the sharp sell-off in crude prices over the past two months, including the impact US trade tariffs may have on global economic growth. In this note, we discuss these key drivers well as some potentially more supportive factors such as rising geopolitical risks.

Glenn Wepener, Chief Strategist, Market Insights & Strategy

21 March 2025

Welcome to our inaugural issue of the Friday (GCC&E) real estate pulse. Real estate markets across the Gulf are gaining momentum in 2025, with several cities starting the year on solid ground. Leading the charge is Abu Dhabi, which posted an impressive 5,149 real estate transactions in just the first two months, amounting to AED17.24bn. Please read on…

Almaha Al Nuaimi, Analyst
Simon Ballard, Chief Economist, Market Insights & Strategy

12 February 2025

Saudi Ma’aden stormed into the capital markets with a dual-tranche debut sukuk issuance that not only reaffirmed its strategic importance but also underscored the appeal and appetite for Saudi debt among global investors. Our analysis covers key aspects, including pricing, secondary market performance, relative value, and fundamental insights on the credit.

Rakesh Sahu, Analyst

06 February 2025

Our latest analysis of new bond and sukuk issuances from the GCC and Egypt (GCC&E), including our outlook on 2025 supply and insights into recent secondary market activity. Emerging markets hard currency bond issuance exploded onto the scene in January, shattering all previous records for the month. A staggering $96bn in hard currency bonds were issued by emerging markets in January. The GCC & Egypt (GCC&E) region led the charge, representing a dominant 27% of total EM issuance.

Rakesh Sahu, Analyst

14 January 2025

In this report we discuss the current outlook for EURUSD and its current descent toward parity. Whichever way we look at it – technically or fundamentally – we would suggest that the path of least resistance for EURUSD remains lower and that it is only a matter of time before the Euro reaches – and possibly breaks through – the psychological level of parity to the U.S. dollar. Indeed, such is the psychological impact of parity, that once it is breached it could trigger an exodus of sustained selling. Please read on…

Simon Ballard, Chief Economist, Market Insights & Strategy

11 December 2024

Global growth remained resilient throughout much of 2024 as robust job creation and solid household finances continued to drive consumer spending. Yes, there have been some setbacks in the global macro narrative recently such as the net disappointing U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for October, even after adjusting for hurricanes and strikes as well as the poorly received UK budget all of which has been drag on sentiment.

Simon Ballard, Chief Economist, Market Insights & Strategy

05 December 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, the impact of the past 12 months from conflicts to hotly contested elections will no doubt continue to be felt in the year ahead. In this piece we focus on a few of the key risks to keep an eye on in 2025, some of which are not that new but are becoming far more acute in our polarized world.

Glenn Wepener, Chief Strategist, Market Insights & Strategy

09 February 2024

This interview was recorded on 9th Feb 2024, discussing various topics including; the outlook for the oil market & some key risks to watch for this year