GCC

Saudi Arabia is expected to print large tranches for its new 2029 and 2050 bond issue but will need to pay up for them in its first deal since the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the country's consulate in Istanbul last year.

Emerging markets have leapt back into action as investors take full advantage of the wider levels on offer in the asset class. Even some of the sector’s most turbulent credits are coming to market.

Bankers have confirmed that Qatar National Bank has entered the second phase of syndication to refinance an existing €2.25bn facility due for maturity in May 2019.

Qatar’s Doha Bank has closed a $525m unsecured facility as lenders demonstrated healthy appetite for the small and politically isolated Gulf country.

The Middle East has been fuelling business in the CEEMEA bond and loan markets for the last 12 months. That looks set to persist in 2019, when the region’s big hitters are expected to come with multi-billion dollar financing needs to both markets. Michael Turner and Francesca Young report.

A host of emerging market opportunities are set to be presented to equity investors in 2019 with Kazakhstan likely to lead the way with a number of highly anticipated listings. Sam Kerr reports.

Emerging markets, reeling from a dreadful fourth quarter, should return to form in January, in spite of the bad conditions prevailing in the broader market.

Equate Group, the Kuwaiti petrochemical producer, has amended and extended its $1.9bn term loan and $1bn revolving credit facility, achieving a reduction in pricing and strong demand from international lenders.

Goldman Sachs International conducted business with Lars Windhorst, the colourful German financier, despite warnings from its compliance department that he was a high risk counterparty.

Opec+, the oil producing countries’ cartel and their non-member oil producing allies, decided to cut oil production by 1.2m barrels a day, sending the Brent crude price up 5%. Market participants are evaluating the potential impacts on capital markets and international relations.

Loan bankers and market analysts are weighing up the implications of Qatar's shock announcement on Monday that it would leave the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in January after 57 years of membership, writes Mariam Meskin.

Saudi Electricity Co has closed a $2.15bn revolving credit facility after months of talks, as bankers concede that banks are "unlikely to turn the tap off" on Saudi deals amid international political upheaval.