Saturday 5 September 2015

UAE PMI climbs to highest in six months | The National

UAE PMI climbs to highest in six months | The National:



"New economic data suggests the weakening oil price is yet to take its toll on many businesses throughout the UAE – but that could change as the impact trickles down through the economy.



The UAE’s non-oil purchasing manager’s index rose to its highest level in six months in August as Ramadan’s end pushed up monthly figures.



The index, which aggregates managers’ views about the state of their businesses, rose to 57.1, up from 55.8 the previous month. Any score above 50 indicates that the economy is expanding."



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Iran’s oil industry braces for momentous change | GulfNews.com

Iran’s oil industry braces for momentous change | GulfNews.com:



"On the penthouse floor of Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum tower, I found a man clearly on a mission.



After seven years under a restrictive sanctions regime, tightened each year like a noose to bring Iran back to the bargaining table, Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar Zaganeh is making preparations to cut the country’s energy industry loose onto the world energy market.



Zaganeh was petroleum minister in the government of Mohammad Khatami, when Iran hit its pre-sanctions peak of over 4 million barrels a day last decade, the second highest in Opec."



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Gulf states need to aim higher on freedom parameter | GulfNews.com

Gulf states need to aim higher on freedom parameter | GulfNews.com:



"The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council member-states are — unfortunately — not among the best in the world in the recently-released Human Freedom Index, brought out by the Cato Institute of the US, Frazer Institute of Canada and Germany’s Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.



Much to its credit, the index attempts to measure values of great significance, namely personal, civil and economic freedom. Some 76 variables are used for calculating personal and economic freedom including rule of law, security and safety, association, assembly and civil society, size of government, legal system and property rights, access to sound money, freedom to trade internationally, regulation of credit, labour and business."



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Saudi Arabia satisfied with Obama's assurances on Iran deal | Reuters

Saudi Arabia satisfied with Obama's assurances on Iran deal | Reuters:



"Saudi Arabia is satisfied with assurances from U.S. President Barack Obama about the Iran nuclear deal and believes the agreement will contribute to security and stability in the Middle East, a senior Saudi official said on Friday.



Saudi King Salman met with Obama at the White House on Friday to seek more support in countering Iran, as the Obama administration aimed to use the visit to shore up relations after a period of tensions.



The visit is the king's first to the United States since ascending to the throne in January 2015, and comes after the United States agreed to a nuclear deal with Iran in July."



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