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Financial Services Sector Research Highlights

Kuwait's banks target sustainable growth

In this Growth Perspectives video, OBG shows how Kuwaiti banks are embracing environmental, social and governance principles to contribute to the sustainable growth of the banking sector...

Increasing the accessibility of trading in Kuwait and the GCC

Talal Al Ajmi, CEO and Founder, VI Markets

In this Global Platform video, Talal Al Ajmi, CEO and Founder, VI Markets, talks about increasing the accessibility of trading. Financial markets have experienced significant changes compared to before the...

Inside Look: Financial Services in Kuwait

Kuwait’s banks are among the largest and most robust in the region. Asset growth has defined the sector’s trajectory in recent times, as Kuwaiti banks continued to recover from the disruptions of the...

The Report: Abu Dhabi 2023

Banking Sector Analysis

Abu Dhabi’s banking sector thrives in a globally connected economy, supported by solid capitalisation, credit growth and profitability. The embrace of technological innovation and financial technology...

Special Reports on the Financial Services Sector
Cash Transformation Report

Report: How has public-private collaboration boosted digital and cash transformation in the Bahamas?

Public-private collaboration aimed at boosting digital payments and reducing cash usage in the Bahamas has made gains in a relatively short timeframe. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, policymakers...
ESG Intelligence Report

Report: The financial sector's central role in tackling ESG issues in Mexico

Environmental, social and governance issues are a growing focus in Mexico, particularly social inclusion and transparency, followed by other governance and environmental matters. The financial sector has...
ESG Intelligence Report

Report: The future of sustainable finance in Kuwait’s banking sector

The regulatory landscape for Gulf financial service providers is changing, with growing awareness of the need for banking institutions to adopt sustainable finance frameworks and responsible lending...
Focus Report

Focus Report: Post-pandemic trends and opportunities on African stock exchanges

Although stock exchanges on the continent were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, recovery is starting to take shape. The crisis underlined the need to build resilience and diversify the investor base...

Report: How has public-private collaboration boosted digital and cash transformation in the Bahamas?
Report: The financial sector's central role in tackling ESG issues in Mexico
Report: The future of sustainable finance in Kuwait’s banking sector
Focus Report: Post-pandemic trends and opportunities on African stock exchanges
 

Boosting investment in Kuwait’s capital markets

In this Growth Perspectives video, OBG shows how Boursa Kuwait has introduced reforms and launched new investment tools to support the development of the capital markets. The surge in market...

ESG in Indonesia: Access to Finance

Indonesia continues to leverage sustainable finance, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as investor priorities shift towards ESG metrics. The country’s inaugural G20 Presidency in...

Financial Sector Analyses

Overview

Strong fundamentals fuel growth in Abu Dhabi’s banking sector
OBG
plus

As part of the UAE’s globally connected economy, Abu Dhabi’s banking sector has benefitted from the country’s robust growth in both its oil and non-oil sectors. The emirate’s lenders are well capitalised, and experiencing solid credit growth and profitability. They have also embraced technological innovation and financial technology (fintech) – as has the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) – while the emirate’s financial free zone has witnessed additional buoyancy despite global headwinds. The UAE has been strengthening its cybersecurity...

Interview

Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor, Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)
OBG
plus

On the importance of innovation in finance

Overview

Growth in Abu Dhabi’s capital markets fuelled by debt demand, IPO framework
OBG
plus

Abu Dhabi plays a leading role in regional capital markets development, both as a driving force for the development of sustainable and virtual asset regulatory frameworks, and as a centre of equity listings and merger and acquisition (M&A) activity. The Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 seeks to diversify the economy away from fossil fuels, ensuring a plentiful supply of formerly government-owned companies seeking to debut on public markets. Moreover, as economic growth continues to expand after the Covid-19 pandemic, there is no...

Interview

Maryam Buti Al Suwaidi, CEO, Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
OBG
plus

On the significance of establishing a regulatory framework that fosters development

Overview

What is fuelling expansion in Abu Dhabi’s insurance sector?
OBG
plus

Abu Dhabi’s insurance sector has benefited from strong growth in the UAE’s overall economy following a recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, a trend that has been enhanced by a competitive market and a tech-savvy, financially literate consumer base. Gross written premium (GWP) and underwriting income increased across the board in the UAE in 2022, with GWP surpassing levels observed prior to the start of the pandemic. Abu Dhabi’s insurers in particular are well placed to take advantage of the continuing expansion in compulsory health...

Analysis

Emerging markets implement updated international insurance standards
OBG
plus

Insurance companies worldwide have been preparing for the most significant change in global accounting standards in almost two decades. On January 1, 2023 the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 17 came into effect. Replacing the previous standard, IFRS 4, which was issued in 2004, IFRS 17 aims to standardise insurance accounting globally through a uniform approach in order to improve comparability and increase transparency. This is expected to help those in the industry better understand individual insurers’ financial...

The Report: Misrata 2023

Financial Services Sector Analysis

Due to the introduction of new players, innovative products and services and regulatory reforms, the banking sector in Libya and Misrata has undergone significant changes. The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) and...

The Report: Saudi Arabia 2023

Banking Sector Analysis

Saudi Arabia’s banking sector is undergoing its first regulatory overhaul in over half a century. These changes, combined with regulatory sandboxes and support for financial technology (fintech)...

Financial Services in Emerging Markets

Economic News

Climate risk is reshaping the insurance sector in emerging markets
OBG
plus

With the launch of a new joint initiative to support the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change, the global insurance industry is evolving in ways that could carry important implications for business in emerging markets. The Global Shield against Climate Risks (GSCR) was announced by the ministers of finance of the so-called Vulnerable Twenty Group (V20) and the G7 after the COP27 UN Conference on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh Egypt in November last year. It seeks to address weaknesses...

Economic News

Digital financial inclusion is reshaping payments in Côte d’Ivoire
OBG
plus

Already a regional standout in terms of growth and investment inflows, Côte d’Ivoire is striving to become a pioneer in digital financial inclusion. The West African country saw key indices rebound swiftly following the Covid-19 pandemic, with GDP growth reaching 7% in 2021, returning to pre-pandemic levels following a drop to 1.7% in 2020. Growth is set to remain strong, estimated at 6.7% in 2022 and projected to reach 6.2% in 2023, according to the IMF. Coupled with robust investment inflows over the past decade, the country...

Economic News

Emerging markets invest in film media to extend their global reach
OBG
plus

As GCC countries look to harness new forms of financial technology (fintech) such as blockchain, deepen their financial services and expand financial inclusion, governments are embracing decentralised finance (DeFi) and are working to attract cryptocurrency companies to the region. In DeFi – peer-to-peer financial services with no central authority or intermediary involved in trading, lending, investing and other activities – GCC countries see the opportunity to diversify their economies and embrace Web3 technologies...

Economic News

How digital banking is transforming access to finance in Latin America and the Caribbean
OBG
plus

Despite wider economic challenges such as inflation and supply chain disruptions, digital banks and neobanks are continuing to attract new customers and accelerate financial inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean. Neobanks use apps, software and other technologies to operate exclusively through digital platforms. They are usually limited to bank accounts and cards because they often lack credit institution licences, while digital banks offer the full suite of traditional banking services online...

Economic News

Could better reporting bolster ESG funds in emerging markets?
OBG
plus

As financial markets experience significant headwinds in 2022, environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds saw their first net outflow since 2011. However, the energy transition, climate-related threats to food security and the search for long-term value could prompt a resurgence of sustainable investment in emerging markets. After global ESG funds enjoyed a record run from 2019 to 2021, growing by 98% and seeing net inflows of $25bn in 2020 and $35bn in 2021, net outflow from ESG funds in 2022...

Economic News

Emerging Market Trends 2022: Payment Solutions
OBG
plus

Even as the global economy grapples with inflation, supply chain constraints and high commodity prices, new payment solutions are helping billions in emerging markets access and deploy much-needed capital. Driven by a decline in cash payments during the Covid-19 pandemic, digital payments skyrocketed in line with the growth in e-commerce, as the financial technology (fintech) sector expanded to provide consumers with a wider variety of payment options. The growth of digital payments has been strongest...

Economic News

Emerging markets lead uptake of cryptocurrency despite bear market
OBG
plus

Despite global financial headwinds and significant declines in the value of cryptocurrencies this year, emerging markets are adopting the technology at a rapid pace. The global uptake of cryptocurrencies in the first two quarters of this year outpaced 2019 and 2020, according to the Global Crypto Adoption Index published by US blockchain analysis firm Chainanalysis. Emerging markets dominated the Chainanalysis index, with Vietnam, the Philippines, Ukraine and India ranking as the top-four adopters, while Pakistan...

Economic News

Can the “buy now, pay later” model unlock e-commerce potential in emerging markets?
OBG
plus

Building on the e-commerce momentum from the Covid-19 pandemic, the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) model is one of the fastest-growing segments in consumer finance, particularly in emerging markets. BNPL providers offer point-of-sale loans that consumers can repay in instalments over the course of weeks or months. Charging little to no interest, these microcredit providers make profit via transaction fees paid by the retailer, offering increased sales and customer conversion in return. In June 2022 US multinational...

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