Bahrain
Bahrain governor defends capital ratios
Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj argues capital requirements ‘are not arbitrary, or excessive or punitive’ as they are necessary to prevent excessive risk-taking
Islamic investors must expand out of real estate, says Bahraini central banker
Abdul Rahman Al Baker says it is critical for Islamic financial institutions to better understand clients' needs
Gulf statistics centre to promote transparency by working ‘hand-in-hand' with IMF
GCC-Stat, a joint effort by the Gulf states to improve collation of national data, hailed by IMF as an ‘important boost' that will harmonise implementation of international standards
Oman and Bahrain central banks outline plans for Eid
Preparations underway for banking sector shutdown and cash demand surge during religious celebrations; both Central Bank of Bahrain and Central Bank of Oman will shut
Bahrain executive director on growth of Islamic funds
Importance of Islamic finance highlighted by Central Bank of Bahrain executive director; considers methods to encourage growth in the industry
Bahrain modernises cheque truncation system
Central Bank of Bahrain announces same day cheque clearing system will go live on May 13; system is part of initiative to improve efficiency and confidence in cheques
Islamic Financial Services Board issues new guiding principles
New guidelines focus on liquidity risk management and stress testing for institutions offering Islamic financial services; new members added at latest meeting
Bahrain completes transition to Iban
Commercial banks in Bahrain will now use international bank account numbers as preferred method for international and domestic payments
Bahrain’s Al Maraj on similarities of Islamic and conventional banking regulation
Central Bank of Bahrain governor Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj discusses comparisons between regulation in Islamic and conventional finance
S&P downgrades Bahrain
Standard and Poor’s downgrades Bahrain’s credit rating two notches to BBB amid continued political unrest
Bahraini bankers criticised central bank in lead-up to crisis: WikiLeak
WikiLeak alleges some economists and bankers dissatisfied with Central Bank of Bahrain's slow reaction to real-estate sector problems
Boom years not coming back: Bahrain’s Al Maraj
Central Bank of Bahrain governor Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj says shareholders must recognise past boom years will not return and consolidate industries
Bahrain’s Al-Maraj calls for new Islamic finance business model
Central Bank of Bahrain governor Rasheed Al-Maraj says Islamic financial institutions should cover essential activities to generate more steady income stream
Malaysia's Mahathir: Islamic finance must not follow western banking model
Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir calls for more regulation of banking sector and repudiates western model on banking
Gulf markets integrated enough for monetary union
IMF economists’ work indicates stage set for single-currency project
Bahrain's Al Maraj on pros of conservatism
The governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain tells Malan Rietveld that the country’s conservative approach to finance, regulation and construction is paying dividends in a time of crisis.
Firms must adapt to low growth: Bahrain's Al Maraj
Rasheed Al Maraj, the governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, has said businesses and government will need to adjust to the reality of slower economic growth.
Riyadh to host regional central bank
Saudi Arabia's capital has been named as the location for the Gulf's regional central bank, after an eight-month delay.
Bahrain's Al-Majar: forex swaps valuable
The establishment of a foreign-exchange swap facility is a key initiative in Bahrain's effort to address the current financial turmoil, said Rasheed Al-Majar, the governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Gulf states strong - Bahrain's Al-Majar
The Gulf states are in a strong position to withstand the financial crisis, said Rasheed Al-Majar, the governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Bahrain - Annual Report 2007
The Central Bank of Bahrain introduced many regulatory changes in 2007, according to its latest annual report.
Bahrain: Islamic finance rulings lack consistency
There is a lack of consistency in the regulation of Islamic finance, said Rasheed Al Majar, the governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Bahrain's governor appoints new adviser
Rasheed Al-Maraj, the governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, has appointed Michael Taylor, a former head of banking policy at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as his adviser.
GCC governors back regional CB plans
Central bank governors in the gulf have taken a significant step towards monetary union, backing the creation of a regional central bank.