Latest news with #GCMA
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Strengthening the MSX is a national imperative
The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) is working to strengthen the institution's activities to position it among the region's financial markets in the coming period and to attract more investments to the Omani capital market. Recently, the MSX, in cooperation with the Gulf Capital Markets Association (GCMA), hosted a financial conference attended by several prominent figures in the financial and investment sectors. The conference focused on discussing the most prominent challenges and opportunities facing the region's financial markets in light of current economic and technological changes, and ways to develop a more efficient and attractive investment environment. The goal of this activity was to enhance the position of the Omani capital market, making it an advanced financial center, and to provide an integrated investment environment in line with international best practices. The question raised in this regard is related to the causes required to make the Muscat Stock Exchange an attractive market for domestic and foreign investments, and to understand the challenges facing the market at this stage. There are several factors that can be worked on to improve the stock market's operations and make it more attractive, including diversifying investment instruments and developing and expanding trading mechanisms and securities, such as providing investment funds and new financial instruments to increase diversity and attract a larger segment of investors. It is also crucial to enhance transparency and corporate governance standards and implement international standards to ensure the protection of investor rights and reduce risks. Furthermore, it is important to improve the systems and technologies used in trading to provide a faster and safer environment, while relying on financial technology (FinTech), facilitating procedures, reducing bureaucracy, and improving registration and approval procedures to make the market more flexible and responsive to investor demands. Finally, it is important to raise awareness about investment opportunities and the importance of sustainability and social responsibility to attract investors who focus on these standards. In addition, it is important to encourage foreign direct investment, issue legislation that encourages foreign investors, and provide incentives and facilitation for market entry. The Omani stock market faces several challenges, including a lack of liquidity and weak trading volume, which reduces its attractiveness and limits investors' ability to enter and exit easily. It also relies heavily on changes occurring in the oil and energy sector, making the market vulnerable to global economic fluctuations. Some believe there is a need to further improve governance and disclosure standards, increase investor confidence, and close legislative gaps that could lead to uncertainty or reduce investment incentives. They also believe there is a need to increase the number of financial institutions and related services to provide adequate investment support tools and mechanisms. It is also important to enhance financial literacy and raise awareness of the importance of long-term investment and sustainability. The market must have a comprehensive strategic vision focused on diversifying the economy and achieving political and regulatory stability to attract more investment. In order to enhance the daily buying and selling activity in the Omani stock market and increase trading volume, there are several factors and methods that can be developed and improved, the most important of which are increasing market liquidity, improving the market's ability to provide diverse and attractive financial instruments, in addition to encouraging investors to submit their trades by offering incentive programmes, especially for individual investors that can increases investors' ability to execute transactions quickly and without delay. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Greeneville's annual Juneteenth Celebration takes place June 21
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Town of Greeneville and the George Clem Multicultural Alliance (GCMA) will host their annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 21 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Bicentennial Park. A news release from the town said the celebration aligns with the federal holiday, which was recognized in 2021. Juneteenth commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement that proclaimed freedom for enslaved people in Texas, the last state of the Confederacy with institutional slavery after emancipation. Crowder, Shenandoah, Zach Top and more performing at Appalachian Fair The celebration starts that Saturday with a welcome from Mayor Cal Doty and the GCMA's Candi Turner and Shanda Story. A prayer and scripture reading take place afterward by Rev. Sarah Varnell of Trinity United Methodist Church. Musical performances will be provided by JessBless, Kelle Jolly and Devoted. A kids' area will be available for children to enjoy, which will include inflatables, oversized games, bubbles, hula hoops, touch-a-truck and a book bus. Carolina Ace Barbecue, Creamy Cup Ice Cream, Marcus Cameron (chicken and fish), and The Sweet Spot (kettle corn, candy, and dirty sodas) will be selling food and treats. Bicentennial Park is located in downtown Greeneville at 207 N College St. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair or picnic blanket. More information about the event can be found at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Doha to ‘intensify' development of local currency debt: GCMA
Doha may 'intensify' the development of its local-currency debt market, which is currently going through an 'exciting' phase in view of the robust macroeconomic fundamentals and sovereign support, according to the Gulf Capital Market Association (GCMA). The local capital market regulator (Qatar Financial Markets Authority or QFMA) is committed to the sustainable sector and has increased the clarity around the issuance and listing of debt, Michael Grifferty, President, GCMA said in the Qatar Financial Centre's latest Islamic Finance report. The local currency market has begun to gain traction as it saw its first issuance by a publicly listed company in 2024, he highlighted. Estithmar Holding had last year issued a QR500mn sukuk, marking the first corporate issuance denominated in Qatari riyal, under its QR3.4bn programme. The three-year sukuk, maturing in September 2027, offers an 8.75% coupon and drew interest from government and non-government investors, including banks, insurers, asset managers and family offices. 'There is a possibility that Qatar may intensify the development of its nascent state local-currency programme,' Grifferty said. Terming Qatar's debt capital market as an 'exciting' work in progress, he said 'we have already seen an increase in the diversity of issuers and structures, many in sukuk format and increasingly for sustainable uses.' The state led in this regard by issuing a green bond in a benchmark size, and was the first regional sovereign to do so. In 2024, Qatar set a regional benchmark by issuing $2.5bn in green bonds to fund environment friendly projects, marking a new era for sustainable finance. The bonds are divided into two tranches: a $1bn tranche with a five-year maturity priced at 30 basis points spread over the US treasuries and a $1.5bn tranche with a 10-year maturity priced at 40 basis point spread over US treasuries. 'Banks have added labelled ESG (environment, social and governance) bonds and sukuk to their active issuance programmes,' Grifferty said. The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) is certainly behind this trend, having published its ESG and Sustainability Strategy for the Financial Sector in 2024, he said. 'This is having results, as almost 20% of the debt capital market is being issued for ESG purposes,' he said, quoting an international credit rating agency Fitch. Qatar's domestic markets have been buoyed by a robust economy underpinned by supportive public spending and the authorities' commitment to invest in economic transformation. 'Adding in a well-capitalised banking system and regulatory developments, the case for the Qatar market has only strengthened,' he said. Regulators for their part are laying the foundation for more active debt and equity markets with further market liberalisation, including by easing listing requirements and providing greater clarity about the path to issuance of both debt and equity instruments, according to him. Rounding out the ecosystem are the recent establishment of a ventures exchange, and the completion of a groundwork for listed derivatives to allow trading of futures and options, he said, adding 'we have also begun to see some activity in securities borrowing and lending (SBL). © Gulf Times Newspaper 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After trade dispute, Mexico officially bans the planting of GM corn
By Adriana Barrera MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's lower house of Congress on Tuesday approved a constitutional reform to ban the planting of genetically modified (GM) corn, a move that could lead to more tension with the United States after the resolution of a trade dispute, analysts said. The initiative by President Claudia Sheinbaum comes after a trade-dispute panel ruled in December that Mexico's restrictions on GM corn, mostly imported from the United States, violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. As a result of the USMCA panel ruling, Mexico repealed its import restrictions on GM corn for human, livestock and industrial uses. Mexico, the birthplace of modern corn, had already prohibited the commercial planting of GM corn strains, arguing they will contaminate native strains of the grain, but Sheinbaum pledged to officially prohibit the planting of GM corn within its territory via the Constitution. With Sheinbaum's reform approved with 409 votes in favor and 69 against, native corn is branded as an "element of national identity" and GM corn is officially banned from being planted in Mexico. "Any other use of genetically modified corn must be evaluated ... to be free of threats to the biosecurity, health and biocultural heritage of Mexico and its population," the text of the reform states. The reform will now go to the Senate for final approval. Mexico buys about $5 billion of U.S. GM corn each year, mostly for livestock feed. Some analysts said the reform could spark a new controversy with the U.S. because it also refers to the use of GM corn, and not just the planting of the grain. The Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA), a major consultancy in Mexico said the government's decision to strengthen its position against GM corn generates "uncertainty" in the relationship with the United States, its primary source of yellow corn imports, which are mainly dedicated to livestock feed. "Following the adverse ruling by the USMCA dispute panel, the insistence on these restrictions is likely to trigger retaliatory measures by the US government," GCMA said in a recent report.
