By Ahmed Tabaqchali, Chief Strategist of AFC Iraq Fund. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Banks to Fuel the Market's Next Phase The market, as measured by the Rabee Securities RSISX USD Index, was up 16.3% for the month and up 65.5% […]
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Will digital banks lure out cash under Iraqi mattresses? In Iraq, years of economic and political instability have created an environment of mistrust that is leading many to avoid depositing their money in […]
By John Lee. Fitch Ratings has placed Iraq's Sumer Commercial Bank PSC's (SCB) Long- and Short-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of 'CCC+' and 'C', respectively, and Viability Rating (VR) of 'ccc+' on Rating Watch Negative (RWN). It says the recent ban that prohibits SCB from dealing in US dollars restricts the bank's capacity to repay […]
From the World Bank: Without Reforms, Iraq's Oil Boom Could Turn to Bust Iraq's economy continued its oil-driven recovery after the sharp pandemic-induced recession in 2020, but non-oil sectors have stagnated, and growth constraints have reemerged. Despite a record oil windfall and a long-awaited new budget, Iraq nevertheless remains at risk of missing the opportunity […]
By John Lee. The US has reportedly barred 14 Iraqi banks from conducting dollar transactions, as part of a crackdown on illegal transfers of dollars to Iran and other sanctioned countries. According to the Wall Street Journal, the banks include Al Mustashar Islamic Bank, Erbil Bank, World Islamic Bank, Zain Iraq Islamic Bank and Al […]
By John Lee. KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has said that, while the KRG's financial reforms project is still in its preliminary stages, its ultimate goal is to digitise the public sector's payroll, benefiting 1.2 million civil servants. Additionally, the project aims to involve the private sector to ensure accessibility and convenience for everyone in […]
By John Lee. Fitch Ratings has assigned Erbil's Region Trade Bank for Investment and Finance Private Shareholding (RTB) a Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of 'CCC+', and Viability Rating (VR) at 'ccc+'. It says the rating reflects the bank's, "limited franchise, unstable business model, volatile and concentrated customer deposit base and weak albeit improving profitability." […]
By John Lee. Saudi Arabi'a Arab National Bank (ANB) has announced an investment of $38.2 million to create Arab Bank Iraq. ANB will have a 20-percent stake in the new bank. The full statement from ANB is as follows: Arab National Bank announces the approval of the Board of Directors on 14/5/2023 after obtaining the […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet has agreed to draft a a law to regulate electronic payments in Iraq. The Legal Department of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers will work together with the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, and the Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister […]
By Hayder Al-Shakeri for Chatham House. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Are new US financial restrictions on Iraq missing their target? The latest restrictions are a symptom of increased US-Iran tensions. But as Iraq's elite find ways around them, ordinary Iraqis […]
By Lara Dihmis, for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq Central Bank Sues Executives of Private Bank Investigated by OCCRP The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has filed several lawsuits against the chairman […]
From Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq to Contain the Kurdish Opposition and Pay Its Debts to Iran in Emirati Dirhams Iraq will begin paying for its debts and imports from Iran in Emirati […]
