Latest news with #SatyendraPathak
Qatar Tribune
14-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Strong fundamentals bolster stability in Qatar's banking sector: QNBFS
Satyendra Pathak Doha The Qatar banking sector showcased resilience and steady growth during April 2025, reflecting strong fundamentals and proactive financial management, despite minor month-on-month fluctuations, QNB Financial Services (QNBFS) has said in a report published recently. According to a report, total banking assets stood at a robust QR2.072 trillion, representing a commendable year-to-date (YTD) growth of 1.2 percent, underlining the sector's sustained expansion. While the total loan book saw a slight MoM decline of 0.2 percent, it recorded a healthy 2.8 percent growth YTD in 2025. Notably, the report said, private sector loans advanced by 0.4 percent MoM and 1.6 percent YTD, reflecting increased credit demand and positive momentum across keysegments. The general trade and services sectors were the primary drivers of this growth, with general trade loans rising 0.9 percent MoM and services up by 0.5 percent MoM, supported by ongoing diversification of the economy. The real estate segment remained resilient, registering marginal growth, while consumer lending rose by 0.5 percent MoM and a solid 4.2 percent YTD, indicating sustained consumer confidence. Despite a 1.6 percent MoM dip in April, the report said, total deposits maintained a positive trajectory with a 1.5 percent increase YTD in 2025. The private sector deposit base continued to strengthen, up 2 percent YTD, demonstrating continued trust in the local banking system. Within the public sector, semi-government institutions saw a notable 2.9 percent MoM increase in deposits, reflecting renewed institutional confidence. Similarly, government institutions, which account for over half of public sector deposits, registered a slight MoM uptick and a strong 5.1 percent gain YTD. Liquidity in the banking system remained strong, with liquid assets at a healthy 30.2 percent of total assets as of April 2025, unchanged from the previous month. This stability signals banks' strong capability to meet short-term obligations and support economic growth initiatives. Loan provisioning levels increased marginally to 4 percent, up from 3.9 percent in March 2025, indicating the banking sector's continued prudence and readiness to mitigate risks—especially within sectors like contracting and real estate. This proactive stance has contributed to the sector's long-term strength and investor confidence. As deposits saw a steeper drop compared to loans in April, the LDR edged up to 132.8 percent, from 131 percent in March. While higher, the ratio remains within the historical comfort range and underscores banks' continued commitment to supporting credit growth, particularly to productive private sector segments. Overall, the report said, the Qatar banking sector continues to exhibit sound fundamentals and prudent financial stewardship. With expanding private sector lending, stable liquidity, and healthy YTD growth across core metrics, the industry remains well-positioned to support Qatar's economic ambitions in 2025 and beyond.
Qatar Tribune
12-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Banking stocks lift market sentiment as QSE makes weekly gain post Eid break
Satyendra Pathak Doha The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) ended the Eid-break-shortened trading week on a positive note, with the benchmark index gaining 68.16 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 10,626.50 points. The weekly performance was supported by notable gains in leading banking stocks, helping offset declines in other sectors. Market capitalisation edged up by 0.4 percent during the week to reach QR627.1 billion compared to QR624.4 billion in the previous week. Out of the 53 listed companies, 24 closed higher, 27 ended lower, and two remained unchanged. The main drivers of the weekly index performance were Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Commercial Bank (CBQ), and QNB Group (QNB), which together contributed over 58 index points. QIB led the contribution with 23.06 points, followed by CBQ with 18.82 points and QNB with 16.67 points. Damaan Islamic Insurance Company emerged as the top gainer for the week, rising 3.4 percent, while Gulf International Services (GIS) was the worst performer, dropping by 2.8 percent. Trading activity declined during the shortened week. Total traded value dropped 14.1 percent to QR1.4 billion from QR1.63 billion in the previous week. Similarly, traded volume fell by 8.2 percent to 626.5 million shares, while the number of transactions plunged by 31percent to 73,657 points. Industries Qatar (IQ) was the most actively traded stock by value with QR91 million in trades, while Ezdan Holding Group (ERES) topped the volume chart with 63.5 millionshares traded. Foreign institutional investors turned net buyers during the week with QR119.2 million in net purchases, a sharp turnaround from the previous week's net selling of QR85.4 million. However, Qatari institutions shifted to net selling at QR6.2 million, down from net buying of QR57.7 million a week earlier. Foreign retail investors recorded net selling of QR43.3 million, while Qatari retail investors also turned bearish, offloading QR69.8 million worth of shares. On a year-to-date basis, global foreign institutions remain net sellers of Qatari equities to the tune of $238.6 million, while GCC institutions are net short by$26.4 million. In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Investment Manager at Qatar Securities Company Ramzi Qasmieh said that the QSE Index has posted a modest gain of 0.52 Qatar year-to-date. He attributed the upward momentum to strong performances in the telecommunications and transportation sectors, which have surged 19.2 percent and 12.7 percent respectively so far in 2025. Qasmieh noted that despite a slight decline in the index during Thursday's session, QSE outperformed several neighboring markets. He observed an improvement in liquidity in the three post-Eid sessions, with average daily turnover reaching approximately QR467 million. Foreign institutional portfolios were seen targetingblue-chip stocks. He also highlighted the market's anticipation of the FTSE index review implementation next week, which is expected to boost trading activity. Several stocks, including Nakilat, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, and Medicare, have reached their highest levels in over a year, with Nakilat achieving its highest price innearly 19 years. From a sectoral perspective, the transportation sector registered a weekly gain of 0.22 percent, while the real estate sector saw the biggest decline at 1.55 percent. With foreign interest returning to key stocks and several companies showing strong upward momentum, the QSE appears poised for further movement ahead of the FTSE rebalancing. Continued focus on institutional buying trends and liquidity levels will be crucial indicators in the weeks ahead.
Qatar Tribune
09-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar's Islamic finance assets up 4.1% to QR683 bn: Bait Al Mashura
Satyendra Pathak Doha Despite continued global economic uncertainties, Qatar's Islamic finance sector demonstrated remarkable resilience and steady growth in 2024. According to a newly released annual report by Bait Al Mashura Finance Consultations, total Islamic finance assets in the country grew by 4.1 percent during the year, reaching an impressive QR683 billion (approximately $187 billion). This expansion reinforces Qatar's strategic commitment to developing a diversified and sustainable financial sector in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. Commenting on the findings, Prof Khalid Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, vice chairman of board of directors at Bait Al Mashura Finance Consultations, said, 'The growth of Islamic finance in 2024 reflects the strong fundamentals of Qatar's financial system, effective regulatory oversight, and growing public confidence in Shariah-compliant financial instruments. This sector continues to be a key pillar of the national economy.' Islamic finance in Qatar comprises several interconnected components: Islamic banks, Takaful (Islamic insurance) companies, Islamic finance companies, Islamic investment companies, Islamic Sukuk, Shariah-compliant funds, and Islamic indices. These segments are supervised and regulated by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB), with some institutions also operating under the jurisdiction of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). The bulk of Islamic finance assets—amounting to 87.4 percent—were held by Islamic banks. Sukuk (Islamic bonds) followed with a share of 11.2 percent, while the remainder was distributed across Takaful firms, Islamic investment companies, and other Shariah-compliant entities. The Islamic banking sector in Qatar comprises four local Islamic banks, including Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Masraf Al Rayan, Dukhan Bank, and Qatar International Islamic Bank. In addition, Islamic wholesale and investment banking is represented by entities operating under the QFC framework, such as QInvest and Lesha Bank. In 2024, Islamic banking assets increased by 3.9 percent year-on-year to reach QR585.5 billion. Deposits into Islamic banks rose by a robust 8.2 percent to QR339.1 billion, with the private sector accounting for 57 percent of the total. Islamic bank financings also grew healthily, reaching QR401.5 billion—an annual increase of 4.9 percent. Key areas of financing included real estate, government-related projects, and personal financing. Revenue from Islamic banking surged 12.6 percent during the year, reaching QR29.5 billion. Net profits stood at QR8.7 billion, marking a 6 percent year-on-year increase, demonstrating both improved operational efficiency and stable earnings in the face of inflationary and geopolitical pressures. Qatar's Takaful insurance sector also experienced healthy growth. Assets of Takaful companies rose by 7.1 percent to reach QR5.1 billion in 2024. Policyholders' assets climbed 6.3 percent to QR2.6 billion. Insurance contributions saw a notable rise of 18.6 percent, exceeding QR1.9 billion. However, the profitability of Takaful companies remained mixed. While some insurers achieved surpluses, others incurred underwriting losses, indicating the need for more efficient risk management and product diversification within the sector. Islamic finance companies in Qatar—offering a range of Shariah-compliant financing and leasing solutions—recorded a slight rise in total assets to QR2.53 billion (up 0.8 percent from 2023). Their financing activities increased by 5.7 percent, totaling QR1.9 billion. Revenues rose by 14.7 percent to QR277.2 million, of which 84 percent was generated from financing and investment activities. The sector's financial performance, however, was mixed. While some companies reported combined profits of over QR178.5 million, others suffered cumulative losses amounting to QR12 million. The results underscore the ongoing need for prudent financial management and strategic positioning in a competitive market. Islamic investment companies witnessed an encouraging 5.2 percent growth in total assets, reaching QR549.5 million. Revenues rose significantly by 44.1 percent to QR59.7 million. Similar to other sectors, performance outcomes varied—some firms posted profits while others incurred losses. The sector reported an overall profit of QR17.5 million for 2024. One of the standout trends of 2024 was the exponential growth in Qatar's Islamic Sukuk market. Total Sukuk issuance surged by 161 percent during the year. Islamic banks issued Sukuk worth QR9.5 billion, a remarkable 300 percent increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, the Qatar Central Bank issued Sukuk valued at QR16.9 billion—a jump of 118.5 percent from 2023. This surge reflects a growing appetite for fixed-income Shariah-compliant instruments, both domestically and regionally, supported by favorable liquidity conditions and investor confidence in sovereign and bank creditworthiness. Shariah-compliant investment funds reported a marginal increase in assets, which reached QR944.6 million (up 1 percent year-on-year). These funds exhibited varying performance, contingent on market conditions and investment strategies. On the Qatar Stock Exchange, the Al Rayan Islamic Index posted a 2.23 percent gain in 2024. Performance of individual Islamic finance stocks was mixed, with some experiencing gains of up to 2.3 percent, while others saw declines as steep as 19.6 percent. The broader economic landscape in Qatar remained resilient in 2024. Real GDP grew by 2.6 percent, reaching QR713.4 billion at constant prices. At current prices, GDP stood at QR795.3 billion. The financial and insurance sector contributed 10.3 percent to GDP, totaling QR82 billion in value-added output. The State's public finances remained stable, registering a fiscal surplus of QR5.6 billion, despite a 16.2 percent decline in total revenues, primarily due to lower hydrocarbon prices. Inflation also remained well contained at an annual average of 1.2 percent, according to the National Planning Council.
Qatar Tribune
05-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Global energy investment set to rise to $3.3 trillion in 2025: IEA
Satyendra Pathak Doha Global energy investment is projected to reach a record $3.3 trillion in 2025, with clean energy technologies attracting twice as much capital as fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). This surge is driven by strong economic fundamentals, declining technology costs, and energy security considerations, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties Global investment in clean energy technologies—including renewables, nuclear, power grids, energy storage, low-emissions fuels, energy efficiency, and electrification—is projected to reach a record $2.2 trillion in 2025, according to the latest edition of the IEA's World Energy Investmentreport. This surge not only underscores efforts to reduce carbon emissions but also highlights the growing impact of industrial policies, heightened energy security concerns, and the increasing cost competitiveness of electricity-based solutions. In contrast, investment in oil, natural gas, and coal is expected to total $1.1 trillion, reflecting a continued but comparatively limited capital flow into fossil fuels. In addition to offering a comprehensive analysis of current investment trends across various fuels, technologies, and regions, the 10th edition of the World Energy Investment report also reflects on key shifts over the past decade. 'Amid the geopolitical and economic uncertainties clouding the global energy outlook, energy security has emerged as a major driver of the record $3.3 trillion in global investment this year, as countries and companies work to shield themselves from a broad spectrum of risks,' said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. 'While the rapidly changing economic and trade environment is prompting some investors to delay approvals for new energy projects, most existing projects remain largelyunaffected.' 'When the IEA published the first ever edition of its World Energy Investment report nearly ten years ago, it showed energy investment in China in 2015 just edging ahead of that of the United States,' Birol added. 'Today, China is by far the largest energy investor globally, spending twice as much on energy as the European Union – and almost as much as the EU and United Statescombined.' Over the past decade, China's share of global clean energy spending has risen from a quarter to almost a third, underpinned by strategic investments in a wide range of technologies, including solar, wind, hydropower, nuclear, batteries and EVs. At the same time, global spending on upstream oil and gas is gravitatingtowards the Middle East. Today's investment trends clearly show a new Age of Electricity is drawing nearer. A decade ago, investments in fossil fuels were 30 percent higher than those in electricity generation, grids and storage. This year, electricity investments are set to be some 50 percent higher than the total amount being spent bringing oil, natural gas and coal to market. Globally, spending on low-emissions power generation has almost doubled over the past five years, led by solar PV. Investment in solar, both utility-scale and rooftop, is expected to reach $450 billion in 2025, making it the single largest item in the global energy investment inventory. Battery storage investments are also climbing rapidly, surging above $65 billion this year. Capital flows to nuclear power have grown by 50 percent over the past five years and are on course to reach around $75 billion in 2025. Rapid growth in electricity demand also underpins continued investment in coal supply, mainly in China and India. In 2024, China started construction on nearly 100 gigawatts of new coal-fired power plants, pushing global approvals of coal-fired plants to their highest level since 2015. In a worrying sign for electricity security, investment in grids, now at $400 billion per year, is failing to keep pace with spending on generation and electrification. Maintaining electricity security would require investment in grids to rise towards parity with generation spending by the early 2030s. However, this is being held back by lengthy permitting procedures and tight supply chains for transformers and cables. Lower oil prices and demand expectations are set to result in the first year-on-year fall in upstream oil investment since the Covid slump in 2020, according to the report. The expected 6% drop is driven mainly by a sharp decline in spending on US tight oil. By contrast, investment in new liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities is on a strong upward trajectory as new projects in the United States, Qatar, Canada and elsewhere prepare to come online. Between 2026 and 2028, the global LNG market is set to experience its largest ever capacity growth. Spending patterns remain very uneven globally – with many developing economies, especially in Africa, struggling to mobilise capital for energy infrastructure, the report finds. Today, Africa accounts for just 2 percent of global clean energy investment. Despite being home to 20 percent of the world's population and rapidly growing energy demand, total investment across the continent has fallen by a third over the past decade due to declining fossil fuel spending and insufficient growth in clean energy. To close the financing gap in African countries and other emerging and developing economies, international public finance needs to be scaled up and used strategically to bring in larger volumes of private capital, according to the report. This year's edition of the World Energy Investment report features an interactive data explorer that enables users to compare energy investments across multiple sectors, fuels and technologies between the periods 2016–2020 and 2021–2025, covering global trends as well as data for 19 individual countries and regions.
Qatar Tribune
02-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QBA, CMU-Q sign MoU to boost education, research
Satyendra Pathak Doha In a major step toward fostering a knowledge-driven economy and advancing Qatar's National Vision 2030, the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) have signed a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will deepen cooperation in the fields of education, scientific research, entrepreneurship, and community development. Held in Doha, the press briefing accompanying the signing ceremony emphasised the broad and strategic nature of the agreement, which aims to link academic excellence with real-world economic impact through initiatives in training, internships, public policy research, business innovation, SME support, and digital transformation. Addressing the media, QBA Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani reiterated QBA's unwavering commitment to supporting the nation's talent pipeline and fostering collaboration between the business and academic sectors. Sheikh Faisal said, 'Through this partnership with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, we aim to strengthen research and innovation in alignment with the Third National Development Strategy 2024–2030. This collaboration will serve to enhance the private sector's productivity and competitiveness by integrating research-based solutions.' He also stressed the role of educational institutions in nurturing globally competitive talent, adding that strategic partnerships like this are instrumental in bridging the gap between academic theory and economic practice. 'This MoU helps us move beyond dialogue to action. It's about creating pathways for students to engage with our member companies and for our companies to benefit from the latest research and thinking coming out of CMU-Q,' Sheikh Faisal said. Dean of CMU-Q Michael Trick underscored the multifaceted goals of the MoU, highlighting its emphasis on entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and the importance of building direct industry-academic bridges. 'We are planning to focus significantly on entrepreneurship, especially as Qatar becomes more welcoming to startups. The Qatari Businessmen Association's support is essential to making these companies more visible and viable,' Trick said. He noted that while CMU-Q is best known for its programmes in business, information systems, and computer science, it is the synergy between technology and entrepreneurship that will drive Qatar's private sector forward. 'It's not just the business programme. The entrepreneurial aspects of our Information Systems and Computer Science programmes are very strong,' he added. 'This is where the QBA can have a broader impact—not just on our business students, but across disciplines.' The collaboration will also focus on supporting Qatar's small and medium enterprises (SMEs), aligning with national goals to digitise the economy and increase the competitiveness of the local business ecosystem. 'Our Information Systems programme is well positioned to work with organisations at all levels, particularly SMEs,' Trick stated. 'The potential for impact here is enormous.' The agreement outlines internships, guest lectures, and student mentoring as key components, but Trick emphasised that the relationship with QBA goes beyond just job placements. 'We don't need an MoU just for internships,' he noted. 'What we seek is a broader engagement—one where QBA members interact with our students, mentor them, and importantly, hire them. This is how we ensure our graduates have a direct impact on Qatar's economy.' When asked about graduate retention, Trick proudly shared that 93 percent of CMU-Q students who enter the job market stay in Qatar for their first job—a strong testament to the university's alignment with national development goals. According to statements shared during the press briefing, the MoU also envisions collaboration on publishing joint economic reports, organising business development workshops, and holding industry-specific conferences that will elevate private-sector awareness and driveinnovation. A representative from QBA noted that this academic-business collaboration 'will not only raise awareness among business leaders but will also promote strategic thinking and innovation, hand-in-hand with academia.' CMU-Q's student body is composed of both local and international students, many of whom choose to remain and contribute to Qatar's economy after graduation. 'Roughly 20 percent of our students come from outside the country, but thanks to the Qatar Foundation's support and the welcoming environment, many choose to stay,' Trick said. 'We're proud to say that we are not just educating Qatar's youth—we are attracting the world's best and integrating them into the future of this country.'
