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Profits of Omani Banks Rise 20%

Preliminary financial results recently announced by the listed banks on the Muscat Stock Exchange showed an increase in profits
Preliminary financial results recently announced by the listed banks on the Muscat Stock Exchange showed an increase in profits
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Profits of Omani Banks Rise 20%

Preliminary financial results recently announced by the listed banks on the Muscat Stock Exchange showed an increase in profits
Preliminary financial results recently announced by the listed banks on the Muscat Stock Exchange showed an increase in profits

Total net profits of Omani banks listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) jumped by 20.6 percent to RO409mn in 2022 as compared to RO338.9mn profits reported in 2021.

Preliminary financial results recently announced by the listed banks on the Muscat Stock Exchange showed an increase in profits of all the banks, according to a Oman News Agency report.

The sharp rise in such profits reflects the state of recovery of the Omani economy from the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the government’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on various economic activities.

The banks’ improved financial results also reflect the efforts made by banks to diversify their lending and financing portfolios and their contributions to financing projects implemented by the government and the private sector.

Bank Muscat posted the highest profit at RO200.7mn in 2022 compared to RO189.6mn in the previous year.

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French Finance Minister Says Budget Can Still Be Improved

French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Antoine Armand arrives for a dinner in honor of the President of Nigeria, at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 28, 2024. (AFP)
French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Antoine Armand arrives for a dinner in honor of the President of Nigeria, at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 28, 2024. (AFP)
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French Finance Minister Says Budget Can Still Be Improved

French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Antoine Armand arrives for a dinner in honor of the President of Nigeria, at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 28, 2024. (AFP)
French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Antoine Armand arrives for a dinner in honor of the President of Nigeria, at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 28, 2024. (AFP)

French Finance Minister Antoine Armand said on Saturday that the 2025 budget could still be improved, but stopped short of giving ground in a standoff with the far right over new concessions.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's gave Prime Minister Michel Barnier's fragile minority government a rare reprieve late on Friday leaving its rating steady although France's budget deficit has spiraled out of control this year.

Any relief is likely to prove short-lived with both the left and far right threatening to bring Barnier's government down over the budget, which seeks to squeeze 60 billion euros ($64 billion) in savings through tax hikes and spending cuts.

Marine Le Pen's far right National Rally (RN), whose tacit support Barnier needs to survive a likely no confidence motion, has given him until Monday to accede to her demands to make further changes to the budget.

"This government, under his authority, is willing to listen, to have a dialog, to be respectful, to improve this budget," Armand told journalists.

Asked about the showdown with Le Pen, he said: "The only ultimatum really facing the French is that our country gets a budget."

On Thursday, Barnier already dropped plans to raise electricity taxes in the budget as the RN had demanded, but it is keeping pressure on the government to scrap plans to postpone an increase in some pensions to save money.

RN lawmaker Jean-Philippe Tanguy told Les Echos newspaper on Saturday if the bill is not modified the party would back a no-confidence motion.

The test could come as soon as Monday if his government has to use an aggressive constitutional measure to ram the social security financing legislation through parliament, which will trigger a no-confidence motion.