Barclays’s Azar Sees Middle East M&A Driven by Sovereigns

Middle East mergers and acquisitions, at a six-year high, will be driven by sovereign wealth funds and regional transactions amid an economic recovery in the Persian Gulf, according to a Barclays Plc (BARC) executive.

We Are All Europeans Now

Alexander Mirtchev, Contributor

 The broadening cracks in the European economic framework now appear to be undermining the whole European structure, as if a ‘contagion’ is spreading from the Southern European economies outwards.

Argentine Bondholders Urge U.S. Court to Reject Appeal

Holders of Argentina’s defaulted bonds urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the country’s appeal in a clash with implications for tens of billions of dollars in debt.

Merkel Blames SPD’s Schroeder for Letting Greece Into the Euro

German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to pin the blame for the euro-region’s debt turmoil on her Social Democratic predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, saying he should never have let Greece into the single currency area.

Home prices rise strong 12.1 per cent in June

WASHINGTON: US home prices rose 12.1 per cent in June from a year earlier, nearly matching a seven-year high. But month-over-month price gains slowed in most markets, a sign that higher mortgage rates may weigh on the housing recovery.

Hedge Funds Win Ruling in Argentina Bond Case

A dogged group of hedge funds secured a significant victory in a federal appeals court on Friday in a case that is likely to have far-reaching effects on international bond markets, parts of the banking system and the struggling nation of Argentina.

Australia's opposition leader pledges stronger economy if elected PM

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott, favorite to win September 7 elections, launched his campaign on Sunday promising to build a stronger economy, putting bulldozers on the ground and cranes in the skies.

How the Fed can taper without killing housing

The pressure is on for the central bank to gradually start winding down its bond-buying program soon. Many fear that a pullback on current Fed policy might cause mortgage rates to skyrocket -- which could choke off home sales and drag down economic growth.

Germany's finances in surplus as growth picks up

Germany's finances are back in surplus as growth rebounded in the second quarter, official data showed on Friday.

Blackstone to sell London office stake to GIC - report

LONDON (Reuters) - Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC (GIC.UL) is in exclusive talks to buy Blackstone Group's (NYS:BX) stake in the Broadgate office and retail complex in London for 1.7 billion pounds, Britain's Times newspaper said.

Analysis: Sovereign funds' fortunes turn as emerging assets sour

LONDON (Reuters) - The world's biggest sovereign wealth funds may see their bumper profits of 2012 diminish this year as recent diversification into high-growth emerging markets starts to produce disappointing returns.

Chinese bank investing billions of dollars in Africa

BEIJING: China Development Bank (CDB), the country's largest policy lender, has invested at least USD 2.4 billion in African infrastructure and commercial projects besides extending loans to the tune of USD 18.9 billion, the bank's president said today.

Blackstone Said to Sell Broadgate Stake for $2.7 Billion

Blackstone Group LP (BX), the biggest manager of private-equity real estate funds, agreed to sell its 50 percent stake in London’s Broadgate office complex for more than 1.7 billion pounds ($2.66 billion), according to two people with knowledge of the deal.

Libya in talks to buy Dubai's stake in Tunisie Telecom: sources

DUBAI (Reuters) - A unit of Libya's sovereign wealth fund is in talks to buy a 35-percent stake in state-owned Tunisie Telecom from a conglomerate owned by Dubai's ruler, three sources aware of the matter said.

Norway's Progress Party seeks big changes in new government

OSLO (Reuters) - Siv Jensen narrowly missed becoming Norway's prime minister four years ago. Now another chance of entering government appears within her grasp, as her opposition Progress Party looks set to become the kingmaker after elections on September 9.

Eurozone: Recession over, but recovery's roots still shallow

LONDON: The cheery freeze frame of the euro zone economy last quarter is no guarantee of a happy ending to what has been a horror movie for most of the single currency bloc since the onset of the great financial crisis.

Citi Haunts Abu Dhabi as Fund Caught in Brazil Meltdown

Mubadala Development Co., the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, is fighting to avoid losses on its $2 billion investment in Eike Batista’s companies as the former billionaire seeks to save his commodity empire from collapse.

India Unveils Rules to Allow 480 Billion Rupees of Tax-Free Debt

India allowed 13 state companies to raise as much as 480 billion rupees ($7.9 billion) selling tax-free bonds this financial year, helping generate funds for infrastructure such as roads, ports and power plants.

From FDI to AIA: Africans investing in Africa

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Investors from Europe, Asia and the United States are not the only ones chasing growth opportunities in Africa these days - Africans themselves are waking up to the potential across borders in their own backyard.

Norway Fund Says Emerging Market Slump Curbed Returns

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, said a slump in emerging markets held back returns in the second quarter amid concern over a slowdown in the Chinese economy.

Italian parliament gives final approval to growth package

ROME: Italy's lower house of parliament on Friday gave final approval to a package introduced by Enrico Letta's government to try to help pull the country out of recession with measures to cut bureaucracy and promote public work projects.

Korea State Fund to Spend Up to $10 Billion on Alternatives

Korea Investment Corp., the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, plans to spend as much as $10 billion to triple its allocation to alternative assets, diversifying its portfolio to smooth the fund’s returns.

Growth in China trust assets slows as shadow banking crackdown bites

SHANGHAI: Growth of China's trust sector, the largest component of the country's so-called shadow banking system, slowed markedly in the second quarter after a government clampdown on risky lending.

French private sector shrinks at slowest pace in 17 months: PMI

PARIS: France's private sector shrank at its slowest pace in 17 months in July, a survey showed on Monday, adding to signs of an emerging recovery in the euro zone's second-largest economy.

Norway’s $740 Billion Fund May Be Restructured, Solberg Says

Norway needs to review its $740 billion sovereign wealth fund to find a more competitive model that will boost returns, according to the head of the opposition bloc leading in polls ahead of elections next month.

Asia stocks drop in wake of tepid US hiring

BANGKOK (AP) -- Asian stock markets sagged Monday after a disappointing U.S. jobs report sparked worries about the health of the world's biggest economy.

Singapore State Fund Tackles Markets With New Strategy

GIC Pte, manager of more than $100 billion of Singapore’s reserves, is changing its investment strategy for the second time in three decades to be more flexible as the global outlook becomes “complicated.”

Bank of Cyprus to cut workforce by a quarter

NICOSIA: Bank of Cyprus said on Friday that a quarter of its staff had applied for a voluntary retirement programme that would help cut its annual personnel expenses by about 35 percent.

India aims to boost rupee with bond issues

NEW DELHI (AFP) – India said Wednesay it would ask state firms to raise funds abroad in "quasi-sovereign" bond issues and might also raise import taxes on luxury goods as it struggles to revive the rupee.

Credit Suisse in talks to sell private equity unit: Report

Credit Suisse Group AG is in advanced talks to sell its private equity business to Grosvenor Capital Management LP as the bank adapts to stricter rules for managing capital and risk, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.