Saudi Arabia Seeks to Turn Financial Market into Global Investment Platform

The Saudi Capital Market Forum was held in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Capital Market Forum was held in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Seeks to Turn Financial Market into Global Investment Platform

The Saudi Capital Market Forum was held in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Capital Market Forum was held in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia announced its intention to launch a package of new enhancements to develop the post-trading infrastructure and increase its efficiency.

The enhancements are the largest in the history of the Saudi capital market and intend to provide investors with increased investment opportunities and access to a diverse range of financial instruments and new products.

The announcement was made at the Saudi Capital Market Forum, which was held in Riyadh by the Saudi Tadawul Group, under the patronage of Mohammed Elkuwaiz, the Chairman of the Capital Market Authority.

Elkuwaiz said that work was underway to transform the Kingdom into a global hub of Islamic and sustainable finance.

The new enhancements are introduced by three of Saudi Tadawul Group’s subsidiaries: the Saudi Exchange, Securities Clearing Center Company (Muqassa), and Securities Depository Center Company (Edaa).

Eng. Khalid Al-Hussan, CEO of the Saudi Tadawul Group, said that the launch of new improvements to the market infrastructure would contribute to supporting financial stability and integrity, as well as enhancing the group’s products and offerings.

In remarks on the occasion, Al-Hussan noted that the enhancements represent a new positive step in the development of the Saudi financial market.

“These enhancements mark a new chapter in the advancement of the Saudi capital market and align it with global best practices. Our aim is to provide local and international investors with a range of investment opportunities that benefit the Saudi economy and reinforce its position as an attractive global investment destination,” he underlined.

Mohammed Al-Rumaih, CEO of Saudi Exchange at Tadawul, stated that the market would witness a strong momentum from the initial public offering, revealing that 70 listings were currently underway in the financial market and the Capital Market Authority.

Wael Al-Hazzani, CEO of Muqassa, said the enhancements would enable Muqasaa to activate the central clearing services in the main market, parallel market, sukuk, bonds and exchange traded funds.

“Muqassa will enable the introduction of new products and services in the market and implement international practices clearing services for all products traded in Saudi Exchange, which is an essential step to develop the market and enhance its stability,” he added.



Lebanon Bonds Rally to Fresh Two-year High on Ceasefire Hopes

A man counts Lebanese pounds at a currency exchange shop in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A man counts Lebanese pounds at a currency exchange shop in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Lebanon Bonds Rally to Fresh Two-year High on Ceasefire Hopes

A man counts Lebanese pounds at a currency exchange shop in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A man counts Lebanese pounds at a currency exchange shop in Beirut, Lebanon October 1, 2020. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Lebanon's deeply distressed sovereign dollar bonds hit a fresh two-year high on Tuesday as investors bet that a potential ceasefire with Israel could improve the country's prospects.

The bonds, which are still trading below 10 cents on the dollar, have gained more than 3% this week. The 2031 maturity was biding at 9.3 cents on the dollar, its highest since May 2022, according to Reuters.

"Some investors are mulling if it is a right time to buy, since a ceasefire is the first step needed to at some point in time restructure bonds," said Bruno Gennari, emerging markets strategist with KNG Securities International.

Israel's cabinet is expected to convene on Tuesday to discuss, and likely approve, a US plan for a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah, a senior Israeli official said.

Israeli airstrikes, which continued on Tuesday, have decimated Lebanon's infrastructure and killed thousands.

But the counterintuitive rally, the second since Israel began bombing the country in September, was driven by bets that the deal could jolt Lebanon's fractured political system and revive efforts to pull the country out of default.