Qatar National Bank

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is playing an increasingly important role in the global energy market. It is cheap, abundant and relatively cleanenvironmentally. But, like other commodities, it is subject...

Support for Brexit, the UK exit from the European Union (EU), has begun to surge almost two weeks ahead of the referendum, which will be held on June 23. The Financial Times’ poll of polls has...

During the second half of 2015, the Chinese authorities responded to slowing growth and activity through a number of economic stimulus measures. Various indicators show that activity in China’s...

Over the past month, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) has been sending clear signals that an increase in US interest rates is likely to occur within the coming months (see our commentary from last week,...

Economic CommentaryThe US Federal Reserve (Fed) surprised financial markets last week. The minutes of its April rate-setting meeting indicated a significant likelihood of an interest rate increase in...

Oil prices have had a volatile start to the year. They collapsed 25% to USD28/barrel in the first 20 days of 2016, but then rebounded strongly and are now up 33% year to date at USD49/b. Our analysis...

Economic CommentarySteady but unimpressive growth in the Euro area Growth in the Euro area was stronger than expected in the first quarter of 2016, registering 2.2% on an annualised basis. While the...

Economic CommentaryChallenges And Opportunities For The Middle East In 2016 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its economic outlook for the Middle East on April 25. Overall, the IMF...

Some of the world’s major oil producers met in Doha on April 17 to discuss possible steps to support the oil market. Market participants had expected a deal involving a stabilisation of...

Doha, April 18th - QNB Group has published its IndiaEconomic Insight 2016 report. The report examines how the implementation of reforms could reinforce India’s status as the fastest growing...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its bi-annual survey of the global economy last week. As has been customary in recent years, the outlook for global growth has been revised down. The IMF...

Economic CommentaryWill The Recovery In Oil Prices Continue? Oil prices have enjoyed a recovery in recent weeks. They rose from USD28 per barrel (/b) in mid-January to around USD40/b now. While a...

Emerging Markets (EMs) experienced a strong capital surge in March, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF), with the strongest inflows for 21 months. The inflows were broad based...

The Fed gave markets a dovish surprise on the 16th March when it revised down its projections for the policy rate in 2016 from four hikes to two hikes of 25 basis points each. The move was a bigger...

QNB EconomicsIn response to falling inflation and lagging growth, the European Central Bank (ECB) introduced a range of easing measures on 10 March, cutting interest rates and expanding its...

Economic CommentaryAfter a tough start to the year, global financial markets have recovered strongly in recent weeks. Early in the year, a number of concerns plagued financial markets and pushed back...