SHUAA Capital today issued its GCC Investor Sentiment Report, the only report of its kind for the Gulf markets. The SHUAA GCC Investor Confidence Index and its country sub-indices have a range between 0 and 200. A number greater than 100 represents positive sentiment while a number lower than 100 represents negative sentiment.

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Al Rajhi Capital, the investment banking subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi Bank, and Arcapita Bank B.S.C.(c), an international investment firm headquartered in Bahrain, announced today the launch of a USD 500 million (SAR 1.875 billion) fund, the ARC Real Estate Income Fund.

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Tamweel has requested the resumption of trading in its shares in the next month and is in discussions with the UAE federal government over financial assistance, according Reuters.

• DIFC to host Dubai World hearings

Dubai World may offer creditors 60 cents on the U.S. dollar guaranteed by the sheikdom’s government as part of a deal to reschedule $22 billion of debt, two people familiar with the matter told Zawya Dow Jones.

Under the terms of the deal, banks including HSBC Holding PLC, Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Standard Chartered PLC and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, will receive 60% of the money they’re owed by the troubled conglomerate after seven years, Maktoob Business reports.

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Dubai Electricity ‘&’ Water Authority (DEWA) would like to make the following announcement for the benefit of the public in view of the diverse and sometimes contradictory statements circulating in the media, asserting that none of DEWA’s borrowing are in default and that we have unequivocal confirmation from lenders of the uninterrupted continuation of our facilities, that our facilities are guaranteed by Government of Dubai which owns and fully supports the Authority and would restore confidence to all that DEWA has no exposures that gives rise to concern regarding our current or future operations.

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Investment Dar announces today that a majority of its banks and investors have now joined the Standstill Agreement previously entered into with the Coordinating Committee of its banks and investors.

Investment Dar also recently announced that it will present the initial terms of the consensual restructuring plan agreed with the Coordinating Committee at meetings in Kuwait and Dubai on 24 and 25 November respectively.

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57 professionals from across UAE investment sector debate potential prospects for 2010

CFA Emirates, the CFA member association for the UAE, and CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, have hosted a joint financial markets outlook seminar at DIFC’s Center of Excellence.

Attended by an estimated 57 charter holders and professionals from across the UAE’s financial sector, five leading international and regional speakers provided a summary overview on a range of issues which have affected local and global investment markets since the recent economic downturn.  They were also given an insight into potential and anticipated prospects for 2010.

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MENA Investor awards recognizes excellence in investment strategy by MENA based leaders

Chairman of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Abdul Rahman Ali Al Jeraisi inaugurated yesterday the first edition of ‘Mena Investors Summit 2009’. The event is currently taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Saudi Capital and will continue till tomorrow. Present at the opening was Mr. C. Scott Ragsdale, Chairman of naseba Group, along with an extensive presence from investors, representatives of royal families and leading businessmen from different sectors around the region.

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1. First Middle East survey on capital markets perceptions and IR practices commissioned by ME-IR Society
2. Thomson Reuters poll of international investors with regional stock portfolios
3. Examines roles of IR in shaping and developing regional capital markets

International investors are attracted by growth prospects in the Middle East and are keen to engage with companies in the region, according to a study of capital markets perceptions and investor relations (IR) best practices. The study, the first of its kind in the Middle East, was commissioned by the Middle East Investor Relations Society (ME-IR Society) and undertaken by Thomson Reuters Extel Survey.

The study highlights the particular challenges and opportunities facing both investors and regional IR professionals. Importantly, the results of the survey demonstrate that investors believe that regional capital markets have significant growth potential –although concerns were expressed about liquidity levels and corporate governance standards. Among participants in the survey, however, there was a consensus that regional corporate governance standards continue to improve.

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On Friday, Bloomberg said Istithmar World is freezing investments as part of a restructuring process that may result in sale of the fund or its assets, citing people familiar with the plan. The sources said CEO’s job was under review.