Santhosh V. Perumal

Qatar will soon establish first trade finance centre in the Near East Beltway Initiative (NEBI) region, comprising 20 countries with a combined $8tn economy, 2.5bn population and 30mn small and medium enterprises or SMEs transacting more than $2tn in trade finance transactions per annum.

The US rate hike continued to have its influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which Sunday opened the week weak and its key index tanked 192 points and capitalisation eroded QR12bn

The apprehensions over an expected extremely tight US monetary policy and later the sharp 75 basis points hike in rates by the US Federal Reserve had dampened sentiments on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which resulted in its key index plummet 600 points and capitalisation erode QR35bn.

Consumption lending in Qatar is likely to see the strongest growth, buoyed by the FIFA World Cup at the end of the year and positive sentiment stemming from high natural gas prices, according to Standard & Poor's (S&P), an international credit rating agency.

Reflecting the global turmoil brought about by a sharp 75 basis points hike in the US rates, the Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday fell more than 114 points and capitalisation eroded QR6bn.

The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) is strengthening the treasury bills (T-bills) sector by launching shorter tenure treasury bills as well as enhancing the present size of T-bills, a move that ought to enhance international investment appeal.

Global factors such as expectations of sharper US rate hike and volatile Russia-Ukraine crisis played spoilsport in the markets, including the Qatar Stock Exchange, which saw its key index plunge 178 points and capitalisation erode QR10bn

The Qatar Stock Exchange Tuesday gained more than 75 points, mainly paced by the consumer goods and industrials sectors.