Economics and Policy Egypt’s foreign reserves rose to their highest level in almost two years, reaching $18.8 billion at the end of July, according to the latest central bank figures. More from the Associated Press Lebanon and Iraq are starting negotiations toward settling more than $900 million of private sector debt owed by the Iraqi state to Lebanese companies since the 1980s, but the process is expected to take time before the issue is resolved. More from The Daily Star Saudi Arabia's main stock index rose above the 8,000-point level on Monday for the first time in nearly five years. More from Reuters Companies and Business Commercial Bank of Qatar, the Gulf Arab state’s second-largest lender by assets, named Abdulla Saleh al-Raisi as its chief executive officer. More from Reuters Profits at Dubai-based construction company Drake and Scull International rose 63 per cent year on year to $14
