Bahrain
Fund warns Gulf countries on inflation
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with currencies pegged to the greenback will face a tough battle against inflation, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.
Bahrain's Al Maraj calls for more liberalisation
The six member states making up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) must further liberalise their economies if their recent economic success is to continue, says Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, the governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Gulf reserves set to top $2 trillion
If global oil prices remain high, foreign exchange reserves in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will exceed $2 trillion by the end of this year.
Qatar may not track Fed moves
In comments that throw the future of a currency union in the Gulf in further doubt, the governor of the Qatari central bank has suggested the central bank could deviate from its usual practice of shadowing the Fed's monetary policy decisions.
Central Bank of Bahrain - Annual Report 2006
Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has published its first annual report, since changing its name from the Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA).
Bahrain's payment system a success
The Central Bank of Bahrain said that its real time gross settlement (RTGS) payment system introduced on 9 August, has "dramatically speeded up the flow of money", leading to a more efficient financial sector.
Gulf may escape contagion
Rasheed Al Maraj, the governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, said Gulf markets are unlikely to see a major fallout from the slump in USsubprime mortgages as most local companies have their core businesses in the area.
No policy shift for currency, says UAE governor
Investors expecting the dollar-pegged dirhan to appreciate received a strong message yesterday from the governor of the United Arab Emirates central bank, Sultan Nasser Al Suwedi, who said "We rule out any change for the forseeable future".
Al Maraj on key developments in Bahrain
In the speech 'Key developments in Bahrain and the region' given on 8 May Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj of the Central Bank of Bahrain said collectively, the GCC countries now represent a population of some 35 million and the world's 13th largest economy.
Bahrain and Egypt sign MoU
The central banks of Bahrain and Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday 14 May, according to Gulf Daily News.
Bahrain's Al Maraj on financial market development
In the speech 'Brief review of Bahrain's financial market developments' given on 28 April Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj of the Central Bank of Bahrain said a key element in our success as a nation has been the emphasis placed on developing our own human…
Bahrain's boom will continue says cb chief
Bahrain's economic boom is set to continue, boosted by economic and political reform and higher oil prices, Central Bank of Bahrain governor Rasheed Al Maraj said Thursday 29 March.
2010 GCC currency union date is 'challenge'
Currency union by 2010 in the Gulf region is a challenge, but could be achieved if the Gulf countries act swiftly, Central Bank of Bahrain governor said in an interview Sunday 18 March.
Central Bank of Bahrain - Annual Report 2005
According to the Central Bank of Bahrain's Annual Report 2005, the performance of the Bahrain economy has been exceptionally strong throughout 2005.
Bahrain's Crown Prince has doubts on GCC deadline
In an interview published Monday 5 February, Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain cast doubt on a 2010 deadline for monetary union in the region and said his country and the five other GCC states still had some issues to resolve on…
BNM's Zeti at the INCEIF Strategic Partnership
In welcoming remarks at the INCEIF Strategic Partnership 2006 given on 14 December Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz of the Bank Negara Malaysia said one of the strategic steps that INCEIF has initiated is the forging into strategic alliances with the five takaful…
Bahrain launches money market forum
The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has established a money market forum to provide a platform for discussion on market development and structural issues in the Bahraini Dinar money markets.
Saudi Arabia may bid to host GCC central bank
Saudi Arabia may join Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in a bid to host the GCC's future central bank, Gulf News reported Tuesday 31 October.
Iraq central bank officials to train in Bahrain
Sixteen high-ranking officials from Iraq's central bank are to undergo advanced training at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, the Gulf Daily News reported on Tuesday 31 October.
UAE considers reserves options
The UAE's central bank might cut its dollar holdings by anything up to 50% and is looking at the yen, euro and sterling as alternatives, the central bank governor said. It was also announced that Bahrain and the UAE would compete to host the GCC central…
CBB brings central banking authority role to fore
According to this article from Arab News, published Sunday 22 October, the establishment of the new Central Bank of Bahrain highlights the issue of the role of a central banking authority in an economy and financial market.
Bahrain says Gulf to keep dollar peg after union
A common currency for the GCC Gulf Arab states will at first be pegged to the US dollar although the peg may be reviewed later, Bahrain's central bank governor said Thursday 20 October.
Bahrain to revamp payment system
The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), formerly the Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA), is in the process of revamping the national payment system, Trade Arabia reported.
Inflation major risk to GCC currency bid
According to this recent article published on the Trade Arabia website, petty politics and diverging inflation rates are the main risks to the Gulf's attempts to set up a monetary union by 2010.