Bank lending to companies at lowest for decade in Middle East - The National

The market for corporate lending in the Middle East virtually collapsed in the first half of this year, according to new data from the information business Thomson Reuters.

Figures show that syndicated lending reached just US$187 million (Dh686m) in the first six months of the year, down from $10.2 billion in the first half of last year, making it the slowest period in more than a decade.

The crisis in the euro zone, fears over global economic recovery, and pressures on banks' balance sheets are among the factors behind the dramatic decline, experts believe.

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