Oil and gold
Gold traded flat on Thursday, shrugging off data showing China's economy was perking up, as investors waited on the sidelines of the market for US employment data due on Friday.
Brent crude edged down toward US$108 a barrel on Thursday as investors focused on concerns that storm Sandy's rampage across the US East Coast could reduce fuel demand and shrugged off data pointing to a recovery in China.
Economics
The European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency are interested in funding natural gas pipelines in Lebanon, Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi said on Wednesday following a meeting with European officials.
Iranians can no longer export gold without approval by the central bank, an official was quoted as saying on Wednesday, in a new effort by the government to restrict outflows of wealth.
Companies
Dana Gas shares jumped 4.8 per cent as markets began trading after the company said it had missed a payment deadline for a $920m bond.
The sukuk matured at midnight on Tuesday, but Dana Gas remains in negotiations with creditors.
Qatar-based Al Ijarah Holding Co has become the second private company in the country to operate taxis, after Al Million launched its first fleet of 300 taxis earlier in July.
US-based Emerson has announced it is investing $33m to expand its Middle East and Africa headquarters campus in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai.
