Economics and Policy
Tunisia's government has cut its economic growth forecast for this year to 4 percent, down from a previous forecast of 4.5 percent due to events at home and in Europe.
Cyprus is expected to remove the restrictions on the withdrawal of nonresidents’ deposits from the island in a move that would induce depositors to withdraw most of their money, Lebanese banking sources said Tuesday.
Iran's economy should emerge from a recession caused by international sanctions over its disputed nuclear programme, but not until 2014, a year later than previously forecast, according to the IMF.
Elsewhere in Iran, the huge earthquake that hit the southern part of the country on Tuesday did not cause damage to nuclear plants, government officials have said.
Egypt and the IMF failed to agree on terms for a $4.8 billion loan that could ease a worsening economic crisis in the country
Companies and Business
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has ordered government ministries to facilitate a 250 billion riyal ($66.7 billion) housing construction programme that he originally announced in 2011, state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday.
Electricite du Liban said on Tuesday it had stopped 317 cases of electricity theft across Lebanon and vowed to step up its crackdown launched earlier this month.
EFG-Hermes, the Middle East's largest investment bank, has said it has not received notification from Egypt's financial regulator of clearance for its merger with QInvest of Qatar.
