Money matters bulletin

Regional stock market indices Regional currency rates Turkey offers infrastructure loan to Syria Turkey extended a $247 million credit line to Syria in mid-October, to be spent on infrastructure projects that will be carried out by Turkish companies. The allocation ranks among the largest international commitments to Syria and will probably target the water network, the transport network, the electricity and the health systems, as these sectors remain in poor condition and are in massive need of funding. Syria’s Minister of Finance Mohammed el-Hussein stated that meeting the 6 percent annual increase in electricity demand alone would cost the country at least $9 billion. In addition, he said that infrastructure and international development cooperation were priorities for his ministry. However, critics have suggested that the agreement would benefit Turkey by boosting its exports without generating real investment for Syria. Healthy deposits for Jordan’s banks Jordan’s banking and financial system showed