SunGard Identifies Ten Trends Influencing the Banking Industry for 2012 and Beyond Singapore, March 22, 2012 –  David Hamilton, president of SunGard’s banking business, said, “For many banks, the question has not been ‘how do I succeed’ but ‘how do I survive’. Fundamentally, the global banking model has shifted and a transformation is occurring in how money is being managed as …

The Asset recognizes the Bank’s Transaction Banking capabilities in the Middle East UAE – 24 March, 2012- Standard Chartered announced today that it won two prestigious Transaction Banking Awards by The Asset Magazine. At The Asset Triple A Transaction Banking Awards 2012, Standard Chartered was named ‘Best Treasury and Cash Management Bank’ and ‘Best Working Capital Trade Finance Bank’ in …

16 March 2012 Lloyds Bank Appoints Andrew England as Head of Transaction Banking London – Lloyds Bank Wholesale Banking and Markets has appointed Andrew England as Head of Transaction Banking. England will report to Andrew Géczy, CEO of Wholesale Banking and Markets. Under England’s leadership, the Transaction Banking team will continue to build upon the Bank’s successful transaction banking proposition …

The 2nd Annual Middle East Islamic Finance and Investment Conference (MEIFIC 2012) to gather more than 250 Islamic finance industry leaders in Dubai this April for critical discussions on mapping a new growth path for the regional Islamic finance and investments industry. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 20th March 2012: The Islamic finance industry is becoming one of the fastest growing …

March 18, 2012 Al Ansari Exchange, the UAE’s largest exchange house network that provides worldwide remittance and foreign exchange services, has announced a new partnership with Islamic Finance House (IFH) across its branches whereby IFH will issue labour guarantees for companies. Under the partnership, Al Ansari Exchange will offer exceptional value to commercial establishments and a more convenient and cost-effective …

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB), signed a Framework agreement for cooperation with the Government of Arab Republic of Egypt. This agreement aims to finance the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and the General Authority of Supply Commodities (GASC) an amount of US$ 400 million annually for three years. The …

UAE – March 8, 2012 – Standard Chartered has won 11 awards in the EMEA Finance Achievement Awards 2011, the fifth straight year that the bank has been a recipient of multiple awards from EMEA Finance. Standard Chartered Bank will be feted during EMEA Finance’s fifth annual Achievement Awards Charity Dinner on June 21, 2012 in London. In the Sovereigns …

Dear Reader, The Jeddah-based Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) has now become one of the most proactive export credit agencies in the world and, in this issue, we talk to its dynamic CEO , Dr Abdel Rahman Eltayeb Taha. In an exclusive interview, he discusses upcoming export credit and investment insurance opportunities to be …

A largely pessimistic outlook for the demand for trade finance products in 2012 has been revealed by new research from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Based on inputs received from 337 financial institutions responding to a joint ICC-IMF survey, the findings also show a two-speed financial system: for emerging Asia the outlook is …

The Royal Bank of Scotland has now officially opened its corporate banking branch in Emaar Square, Dubai. The branch, which was previously located in Bank St, is an integral part of RBS’s corporate banking operations in the UAE and accommodates a corporate branch, transaction services and global networking sales teams.

HSBC Middle East’s payments and cash management business has been awarded Best Overall Bank for Cash Management and Best Bank for Payments and Collections by Global Finance. The awards recognise HSBC’s continued efforts to strengthen its position across the region, “providing innovative solutions to its customers”. Commenting on the wins, Natasha Patel, regional head payments and cash management for Middle …

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (“DMCC”), the Middle East’s leading commodity centre, has announced the launch of DMCC Tradeflow, a significantly enhanced platform to the previous multi award-winning Global Multi Commodities Receipt (GMR) that was introduced in 2004 as a commodity finance risk mitigation tool. DMCC Tradeflow is an electronic system that brings together all parties involved in inventory-based financing. Through …

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in association with Qatar National Bank (QNB), will host its biannual ICC Banking Commission Meeting in Doha from March 25 to 29. The event will bring together some 400 banking leaders and executives from 50 countries. QNB is the diamond sponsor. This year’s event – entitled Reframing the Future of Trade Finance – is …

Investors are showing renewed confidence in global equities amid radically improved market conditions and growing hopes of economic growth, according to the BofA Merrill Lynch Survey of Fund Managers for February. Allocations towards equities have made the largest one-month leap since the beginning of 2011. A majority of the panel now sees the world economy improving. “Improved liquidity has aided …

While many large Middle Eastern corporates’ treasury operations have traditionally been managed at local subsidiary level, and relied heavily on spreadsheets and manual processes, there is growing movement towards the centralisation and automation of these functions. LIZ SALECKA reviews the current situation.

Businesses that earn much of their income in foreign exchange now tend to look at a wider range of cash management options. PAUL MELLY speaks to Tim Jackson, an expert who knows what they are How do you make the most of your company’s cash? This is a challenge – but also an opportunity – that now confronts corporate treasurers …