Angus Blair

My interview to discuss the much lower yoy trade surplus for #SaudiArabia in May. I noted that it reflects the deepening of & investment in the Saudi economy as key imports rise with investment & lower oil demand including from #China as it continues electrification
now.asharq.com/clips/177618...

My points on the Majid Al Futtaim $670m acquisition for 49.9% of Cenomi Retail in #SaudiArabia It's good to see significant #MENA intra-regional investment & underpins Saudi economic diversification & broadens Al Futtaim's international footprint.
#UAE #MENA now.asharq.com/clips/177541...

My discussion on Bloomberg Asharq on the repercussions of a weaker USD on #SaudiArabia #UAE & wider #GCC in terms of monetary policy, inflation (food & other imports) & reserve management & no longer pegging currencies to the USD if weakness persists longer term.

YouTube video by CGTN Europe Chinese Premier Li Qiang's visit to Egypt: a look at economic and business ties

My interview on #China TV discussing the visit of Chinese Premier, Li Quiang, to #Egypt. We discussed the likelihood of Chinese investment into several sectors including manufacturing &exports in the Suez Canal Zone & into renewable energy & China & regional geopolitics.

youtu.be/omq-W1T1_H8?...

I shall be on Bloomberg Asharq between 12.10 to 12.25pm UK time, 9th July, to discuss #SaudiArabia, its monetary policy, interest rates and what pegging #GCC currencies to a weaker USD means for the economies and markets.
#stockmarket #investment #assetmanagement #UAE

My Bloomberg Asharq interview today on the developments and growth in the sovereign and corporate sukuk / debt markets in #SaudiArabia and the outlook which, despite regional geopolitical issues, remains solid.

#emergingmarkets #debt #MiddleEast
now.asharq.com/clips/177345...

Israeli forces fire on people waiting for aid in Gaza, killing 25, witnesses and hospitals say Palestinian witnesses say Israeli forces and drones opened fire toward hundreds of people waiting for aid trucks in central Gaza.

BREAKING: Palestinian witnesses and hospitals say Israeli forces opened fire toward hundreds of people waiting for aid trucks in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people.

My interview to discuss #SaudiArabia monetary policy options (mirror of Fed's moves) & how the pegging of the Riyal to the USD could come under strain & be reviewed. We also discussed the potential expanded econ shocks of #Israel #Iran war. #geopolitics
now.asharq.com/clips/177210...

My Bloomberg Asharq talk on increased drive to diversify economies of #SaudiArabia the #UAE & other GCC states. Threats from regional geopolitical issues constrain outlook, as does the inability to have monetary policy independence (currency peg) but FDI growing well.
now.asharq.com/clips/176869...

My interview discussing the Saudi Arabian market and the outlook for raising debt for the subsidiaries of the PIF - good, as long as the outlook & strategies merit the debt raising.
#SaudiArabia #debt #Stockmarket

now.asharq.com/clips/176162...

Reading more Having worked in financial markets for all of my working… | Angus Blair Reading more Having worked in financial markets for all of my working life, excepting three years as the CIB Professor of Practice at the Business School of…

These are comments I posted on LinkedIn about the increasing importance of reading and being better informed in a time of increasing volatility & when information has become fragmented. It's also important to challenge prevailing assumptions to make better decisions.
www.linkedin.com/posts/angus-...

I also noted that increased market volatility and downward pressure on valuations in 2025 will likely see the sovereign wealth funds of the #UAE & #SaudiArabia look to acquire key assets in the #USA & #Europe.

My talk on Bloomberg Asharq to discuss inward FDI & outward investments in MENA region particularly #SaudiArabia & the #UAE which accounted for the largest shares. Capital market development & pro-investment policies helped. Similar trends will continue in 2025.
now.asharq.com/clips/175989...

My interview on Bloomberg Asharq today on the #SaudiArabia emerging markets event in Al Ula on EM trends (they need to have better strategies, undertake them faster & implement them better than before), as well on funding development in #Syria #emergingmarkets #Egypt

now.asharq.com/clips/175837...

أسواق الخليج و"داو جونز".. عوامل محلية ودولية تعيد تشكيل العلاقات - الشرق مع Bloomberg أنجوس بلير يناقش تراجع ترابط أسواق الخليج مع "داو جونز"، متحدثًا عن الاكتتابات بالسعودية، تضخم الأسواق، والجيوسياسية وتأثيرها على الأداء الاقتصادي. المزيد على الشرق Now

My interview on Bloomberg Asharq to discuss the #SaudiArabia #Qatar & #UAE stock markets & IPOs & why the US market indices rose due to increased valuations of high-tech stocks. The #Mena region needs better quality IPOs.
now.asharq.com/clip/%D8%A3%...

It's probable that the Erdogan govt will be a close ally of the new Syrian govt but Turkey has its own plans eg diminishing the possibility of Kurdish control in majority Kurdish areas. Also, some in Turkey think parts of Syria are Turkish incl Aleppo & diminish Christian presence. Still playing out

Angus Blair on LinkedIn: #syria #mena #middleeast #revolution #capitalmarkets #economy #geopolitics… Syria and developments. Part 1 Around 20 years ago I met Bashar Al Assaad, the former President of Syria. The British Syrian society had organised a…

Syria: a personal view after meeting the former President of Syria, Bashar Al Assaad, 20 yrs ago in his palace, with the former (much missed) Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir Gavyn Arthur. What happened years later, in 2011, was not a surprise.
#Syria
www.linkedin.com/posts/angus-...

كيف ستنعكس الشراكة السعودية الفرنسية على الجانبين الاقتصادي والسياسي؟ - الشرق مع Bloomberg تشهد الشراكة الاقتصادية بين السعودية وفرنسا دفعة قوية بالمرحلة المقبلة، بعد زيارة الرئيس الفرنسي ماكرون، التي شهدت توقيع العديد من الاتفاقات المهمة.. المزيد عبر "NOW"

My interview discussing the impact of the large French trade missions to Saudi Arabia led by President Macron & the investment deals announced. The French government does these missions very well, with key sectoral goals. #SaudiArabia #France #investment
now.asharq.com/clip/%D9%83%...

ضرائب الأثرياء.. هل تحل مشكلة الفقر عالميا؟ - الشرق مع Bloomberg على الرغم من تأكيد البيان الختامي لقمة العشرين على أهمية فرض ضرائب أكثر فاعلية على فائقي الثراء، يعتقد آنجوس بلير أن العديد من الدول لن تطبقها، مما يجعلها بلا جدوى

My interview on Bloomberg Asharq to discuss the G20 Summit & the effectiveness of its proposals on climate change, poverty reduction & geopolitics. I remain bearish on reducing emissions fast enough & noted that it would take crises for us to act. #climatechange #G20

now.asharq.com/clip/%D8%B6%...

Thank you!

Are you able to add me? MENA region economics, business & capital markets.

The global "order" has al but vanished as the geopolitical fault-lines have increased in number and complexity and, frankly, there has been insufficient attention to rising risks, politically, in terms of the rising loss of life, rising migration, military costs, environmentally & on food security.

6)
Finally, the continuing loss of Palestinian lives stains us all. The regional and global geopolitical positioning is altering & it's concerning as it also has significant economic & environmental repercussions, beyond the loss of life. We need new thinking & solutions urgently.
#Palestine #Gaza

5)
Western governments need to step up before it is too late as, increasingly, there will be a long term distrust of Western intentions & lack of compassion. Dialogues between the MENA region governments & Israel have to remain open too as it's necessary for long term solutions.

4)
There needs to be planning for what happens when the destruction stops. Enormous support will be needed for many years for Gaza's population, from potable water & wastewater, food & housing to health & education. But there will also be refugees, perhaps from the West Bank too.

3)
Western governments have to shift their moral compass urgently. Palestinian life is precious and too many have died already. The question is also what happens next? Gaza will be impossible to live in. There may be hundreds of thousands of refugees very soon & they'll need support.

2)
As the killing by the evil actions of Hamas on Oct 7th has transformed Israel, the Israeli response on innocent Palestinians is transforming the MENA region & much else of the world & it has undermined the "international rules-based" position & much of the West & its inaction.

1)
As Gaza becomes an increasingly inhospitable area for any life through the destruction of infrastructure by the IDF, I'm thinking also of my grandfather, buried in @CWGC cemetery in Haifa, one of the British fallen in 1947 by a group termed terrorists then.

So much has changed now in the Middle East & North Africa & globally and the "rules-based order" no longer exists, given the faultines in holding states to account. Across the MENA region, the leaders are under pressure & the Abraham Accords are at an impasse. These are my tweets from Nov 6th 2023:

On 6th November 2023, I wrote a Tweed thread on the Oct 7th attack on Israelis & others by Hamas & the Israeli response on the population in Gaza and what I expected to occur. Much of what I expected has, unfortunately, turned out to be relatively accurate. The outlook remains grim #Gaza #Palestine