Arab Spring will be ''Positive for Economy'' by 2014, says HSBC MENA clients - Zawya

At the first HSBC MENA Global Banking and Markets Leadership Forum, 62% of the region's most senior business leaders stated that the impact of the Arab Spring would be positive, when viewed over a three year horizon, supporting HSBC's view that the region will continue to play a key role on the global stage.

Despite this, only 28% of respondents were planning to invest in MENA, with the vast majority (45%) looking to invest in Asia. However, when questioned on asset class investment, only 11% where planning to put money into the stock market, against 19% who were looking at gold and 36% real estate.

Mohammad Al Tuwaijri, Head of Global Banking and Markets and Private Banking, MENA said: "This is an ideal time to bring together our most important clients from the region. In times of stress - more than any other - our clients need a bank that they can rely on, not just for effective product solutions, like our award winning risk management capability, but for expert advice they can use, when they need it most."

* username: rupertbu