Middle East

The State of Israel was first out of the blocks for emerging markets bonds on Monday, as it announced a dual tranche dollar offering despite market participants' continued caution after the US assassination of Qassem Soleimani.

A weekend of hostile rhetoric between Iran and the US has caused equity capital markets bankers to consider delaying new deals from the Middle East despite a healthy issuance pipeline, over fears that the two countries are gearing up for war.

With emerging markets bond bankers all ready to start deploying their pipelines next week, the US threw a potential spanner in the works on Friday when it killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Equity capital markets bankers' bullish mood was dented on Friday by falling markets as investors reacted to escalating tension in the Middle East after the US assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. Banks are hoping this change in sentiment does not damage deal making next week.

Burak Kaya is joining MUFG Turkey to lead its corporate banking activity for non-Japanese firms.

Etihad Airways has signed a €100m loan linked to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The deal is one of the latest ESG-linked financings signed in the Middle East, which is developing an appetite for sustainability-linked debt.

Equity-linked bond investors were left hurting again this week after bonds and shares in NMC Healthcare, the London-listed Emirati private healthcare business, were hit by accusations of fraud by short seller Muddy Waters. This is another painful episode for the convertible bond market after its troubles with Wirecard earlier in 2019, and an earlier scandal at Steinhoff International.

Shares in NMC Health, the London-listed Emirati private healthcare business, plunged more than 20% on Tuesday morning after US activist short seller Muddy Waters said it had grave concerns about the company’s balance sheet and financial statements, hitting the firm's convertible bonds.

Turkey’s position economically, and from a capital markets standpoint, is better at the end of 2019 than it was a year ago. However, that is not to say all is well with the country — far from it. Prospects for 2020 are, at best, mixed with growing concerns over central bank independence and high debt levels

The loan market has had a great couple of years in the Middle East but in 2019 the bond market stole its thunder. However, as the region tries to wean itself off hydrocarbons, the sheer scale of financing needed means both markets will have plenty to do over the next 10 years. Mariam Meskin reports

Since the global financial crisis, central banks have accumulated powers over regulation and supervision of markets as well as over monetary policy. In 2019 politicians began to erode that with interventions that have raised questions over who should control markets. By Phil Thornton

Investors gave the Turkish central bank’s 200bp rate cut a sanguine reaction on Thursday, but fund managers also noted that sentiment towards the country could change at any moment.