Bahrain's Gulf Finance House in debt talks-sources

* username: rupertbu

The Bahraini Stock Exchange suspended trading in shares of Manama-based Gulf Finance House GFHB.BH on Tuesday as it waited for the bank to confirm or deny a media report, without providing further details.

GFH is trying to refinance debt due in the next few weeks and is looking to raise cash in case negotiations fail, sources familiar with the Islamic investment house said.

A source at one of the arrangers said that GFH had approached it to roll over or extend the arranger's portion of $300 million in financing, but that it had made no decision as yet and was monitoring the situation at GFH very closely.