UAE Central Bank Fines 11 Banks

The UAE has an agenda to strengthen the efforts on anti-money laundering. WAM
The UAE has an agenda to strengthen the efforts on anti-money laundering. WAM
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UAE Central Bank Fines 11 Banks

The UAE has an agenda to strengthen the efforts on anti-money laundering. WAM
The UAE has an agenda to strengthen the efforts on anti-money laundering. WAM

The United Arab Emirates’ central bank (CBUAE) imposed financial sanctions on 11 banks operating in the country for their failure to reach appropriate levels of compliance on anti-money laundering and sanctions.

The regulator imposed AED45.7 million (USD12.4 million) in penalties.

“All banks operating in the UAE have been allowed ample time by the CBUAE to remedy any shortcomings and were instructed in the middle of 2019 to ensure compliance by the end of that year, informing them that further shortcomings would result in penalties under the Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018 and its executive regulation,” the bank said on Sunday.

CBUAE said it will continue to work closely with all financial institutions in the UAE to achieve and maintain high levels of compliance and will continue to impose further administrative and/or financial sanctions, in cases of non-compliance.

The bank held the first Compliance Officers Forum to create a dialogue between the CBUAE and Chief Compliance Officers of all banks to discuss expectations from compliance function and banks’ risk management more generally.

The forum, chaired by Abdulhamid M. Saeed Alahmadi, governor of the UAE Central Bank, was attended by over 100 Chief Compliance Officers and other senior compliance professionals from the banking industry.

The event supports achieving the UAE’s agenda to strengthen the efforts on anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism.

Alahmadi opened the forum emphasizing the importance of compliance functions and their role in ensuring sound and comprehensive management of all risks faced by banks in the UAE.

The forum addressed several matters mainly highlighting that banks need to assess the scope and skills of their compliance function and properly embed the compliance risk within the overall risk appetite framework.

"The UAE is strongly committed to applying FATF standards to ensure that its financial system is safe and sound. We urge financial institutions to retain their focus on combatting money laundering and financing of terrorism,” Alahmadi said.



Oil Tumbles Further as US-China Trade Tensions Fuel Recession Fears

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows Marathon Petroleum's oil refinery, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Anacortes, Washington, US, March 9, 2022.  REUTERS/David Ryder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows Marathon Petroleum's oil refinery, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Anacortes, Washington, US, March 9, 2022. REUTERS/David Ryder/File Photo
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Oil Tumbles Further as US-China Trade Tensions Fuel Recession Fears

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows Marathon Petroleum's oil refinery, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Anacortes, Washington, US, March 9, 2022.  REUTERS/David Ryder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows Marathon Petroleum's oil refinery, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Anacortes, Washington, US, March 9, 2022. REUTERS/David Ryder/File Photo

Oil prices extended last week's losses on Monday, with WTI falling more than 4%, as escalating trade tensions between the United States and China stoked fears of a recession that would reduce demand for crude.

Brent futures declined $2.54, or 3.9%, to $63.04 a barrel at 0745 GMT, while US west Texas Intermediate crude futures lost $2.5, or 4.03%, to $59.49. Both benchmarks dropped their lowest since April 2021.

Oil plunged 7% on Friday as China ramped up tariffs on US goods, escalating a trade war that has led investors to price in a higher probability of recession. Last week, Brent lost 10.9%, while WTI dropped 10.6%.

"It's hard to see a floor for crude unless the panic in the markets subsides and it's hard to see that happening unless Trump says something to arrest snowballing fears over a global trade war and recession," said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights.

Responding to US President Donald Trump's tariffs, China said on Friday it would impose additional levies of 34% on American goods, confirming investor fears that a full-blown global trade war is underway.

Imports of oil, gas and refined products were given exemptions from Trump's sweeping new tariffs, but the policies could stoke inflation, slow economic growth and intensify trade disputes, weighing on oil prices.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Friday that Trump's new tariffs are "larger than expected," and the economic fallout including higher inflation and slower growth likely will be as well.

Adding to the downward momentum, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) decided to advance plans for output increases. The group now aims to return 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) to the market in May, up from the previously planned 135,000 bpd.

"This potential influx of supply, reversing cuts maintained over the past two years, represents a major shift in market dynamics and acts as a significant headwind for prices," said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet, a New Delhi-based research firm.

Over the weekend, top OPEC+ ministers stressed the need for full compliance with oil output targets and called for overproducers to submit plans by April 15 to compensate for pumping too much.

On the geopolitical front, Iran on Sunday rejected US demands that it hold direct nuclear talks or face strikes. Russia claimed to have captured Basivka in Ukraine's Sumy region and said its forces were attacking multiple nearby settlements.