Regional stock market indices Regional currency rates Qatar gas company raises $1.5 billion for tanker purchase Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) has raised $1.5 billion from banks to finance the construction of 25 new liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation arranged the deal with 12 banks providing the debt. Nakilat is also expecting to raise a further $1 billion from the bank market in the next 18 months. The debt was split between a 17-year $925 million senior bank facility, a 17-year $125 million subordinated debt facility, and a 12-year $450 million bank facility provided by export credit agency Korea Export Insurance Corporation (KEIC). Nakilat’s second quarter profit in of 2008 was $14 million, an increase of 63% compared to the same period in 2007. Zain launches $4.5 billion rights issue Kuwaiti mobile giant Zain launched a $4.5 billion rights issue on August 17. Existing shareholders have
