Monday 17 November 2014

Eurozone – lost in stagnation - YouTube

Eurozone – lost in stagnation - YouTube: ""



'via Blog this'

‘Hallibaker’ merger bid shows consolidation as early symptom of oil price slide | The National

‘Hallibaker’ merger bid shows consolidation as early symptom of oil price slide | The National:



"The year’s most striking oil merger bid turned hostile on Friday when Baker Hughes said that Halliburton was seeking to replace its entire board.



World No 2 oil services company Halliburton and No 3 Baker Hughes confirmed on Thursday that they were in talks to combine, but discussions soon stalled over the price and planned asset sales.



The merger would create a company with a market capitalisation of more than US$71 billion, second only to sector leader Schlumberger’s $122bn."



'via Blog this'

Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank says IFC to convert debt into shares | GulfNews.com

Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank says IFC to convert debt into shares | GulfNews.com:



"Ahli United Bank, Bahrain’s largest lender, received a request from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to convert subordinated debt to shares in the bank, it said in a statement on Sunday.



The bank did not disclose how much debt would be converted, however 118.61 million new ordinary shares with a value of $0.8431 per share would be issued to IFC subject to regulatory approval, the bourse filing said.



The number of shares being issued accounts for roughly 2 per cent of the bank’s current share capital, according to Reuters calculations."



'via Blog this'

Gulf Arab Leaders End Diplomatic Standoff With Qatar - Bloomberg

Gulf Arab Leaders End Diplomatic Standoff With Qatar - Bloomberg:



"Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain agreed to send their ambassadors back to Qatar, resolving an unprecedented diplomatic spat in the history of the oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council.



GCC leaders announced the decision to “consolidate the spirit” of cooperation after an emergency meeting in Riyadh yesterday, according to a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.



In March, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the U.A.E. pulled their envoys from Qatar, accusing the state of undermining regional security. Qatar’s backing for the Muslim Brotherhood, especially in Egypt, has drawn fire from other Gulf nations that have cracked down on the Islamist group."



'via Blog this'

Putin Readies Aid as Rosneft’s $21 Billion of Debt Looms - Bloomberg

Putin Readies Aid as Rosneft’s $21 Billion of Debt Looms - Bloomberg:



"Russia’s financial crisis has become so severe that President Vladimir Putin found himself reassuring investors late last week that the government would provide the support needed to the world’s largest oil company.



With OAO Rosneft facing $21 billion of mostly foreign-currency debt maturities before April, Putin said the government will “definitely” help the company if necessary, according to an interview on the Kremlin’s website Nov. 14. After yields on Rosneft’s benchmark dollar bonds due in 2022 surged to a record 7.34 percent that day as oil sank to a four-year low, the statements may help restore investor confidence in the company, according to Commerzbank AG.



“Putin’s comments tried to reassure investors about Rosneft’s strategic importance,” Apostolos Bantis, a credit analyst at the German lender, said in a telephone interview from Dubai. “This should alleviate investor concerns of a default-risk scenario.”"



'via Blog this'

BBC News - Serco chairman Alastair Lyons leaves troubled contractor

BBC News - Serco chairman Alastair Lyons leaves troubled contractor:



"The chairman of Serco, the beleaguered outsourcing firm that has several contracts with the UK government, has announced he will leave the company.



In a statement, Alastair Lyons talked of "operational mis-steps" at the Hampshire-based group, for which he said he took "ultimate responsibility".



However, Mr Lyons said he had not been forced to resign."



'via Blog this'