Latest news with #ForeignInvestment
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi's CMA approves major reforms to ease investment account access for foreign and local investors
RIYADH — The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved a set of regulatory amendments designed to simplify the process of opening and managing investment accounts for a broader range of investors, including individual foreign investors in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The changes, effective immediately upon publication, aim to align the regulatory framework with ongoing technological advancements and the Kingdom's broader investment and economic goals. The amendments include updates to the 'Investment Accounts Instructions,' 'Rules for Foreign Investment in Securities,' and 'Capital Market Institutions Regulations.' This step is expected to enhance the overall attractiveness of the Saudi capital market by streamlining procedures, strengthening investor protections, and increasing market confidence both locally and internationally. One of the most notable changes is the expansion of investment opportunities for individual foreign investors residing in GCC countries. Under the new rules, these investors can now directly invest in shares listed on the Main Market—an opportunity previously restricted to swap agreements or limited to the debt, parallel (Nomu), fund, and derivatives markets. This shift introduces a new investor category into the Main Market, offering direct access and bolstering market liquidity and foreign participation. The CMA also approved measures allowing individual foreign investors who previously resided in Saudi Arabia or GCC countries to continue operating their investment accounts and investing in the Main Market after leaving the region, as long as the account was initially opened while residing in the Kingdom. This move is expected to maintain investor engagement and capital flow continuity beyond residency periods. Additionally, the reforms aim to ease account procedures for all categories of capital market institution clients, thereby expanding access and enhancing operational efficiency across the board. These developments follow a 30-day public consultation period launched on November 20, 2024, via the Unified Electronic Platform for Consulting the Public and Government Entities, affiliated with the National Competitiveness Center, and the CMA's official website. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Trade war with U.S. has not dampened foreign investors' appetite for Montreal
Foreign companies invested more money than last year in the greater Montreal area despite threats from U.S President Donald Trump. "Bonjour Montreal" in giant letters in front of downtown on July 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz MONTREAL — Foreign investment is on the rise in Montreal despite Canada's trade war with the United States. A Montreal economic development agency says the value of investment from foreign companies rose 55 per cent to $1.69 billion in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2024. Preliminary data from Montréal International says the agency this year supported 29 projects in the greater Montreal area that created 1,866 jobs with an average salary of $101,000. And despite tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump — and his recent threats to impose more — 46 per cent of foreign investment in Montreal so far this year is from American companies. Stéphane Paquet, CEO of Montréal International, says the uncertainty around immigration is hurting investment in the city more than the trade war is. Paquet says companies are looking for more stability in provincial and federal immigration policies so that firms can better predict labour market trends. --- Stéphane Rolland, The Canadian Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025.
Argaam
10-07-2025
- Business
- Argaam
CMA enables GCC residents to directly invest in TASI
The Capital Market Authority's (CMA) board approved a set of amendments aimed at facilitating the procedures for opening investment accounts for various categories of investors, as part of the draft to amend the "Investment Accounts Instructions, the Rules for Foreign Investment in Securities, and the Capital Market Institutions Regulations", to be effective as of the date of its publication. In a statement, the regulator said that the approval of this regulatory framework aims to align with the regulatory and technological developments in Saudi Arabia and facilitate investment in the Saudi capital market by improving the procedures for opening investment accounts, including new categories of investors, and regulating the operations related to these accounts. This will enhance the attractiveness of the Saudi capital market for both local and international investors, increase the level of investor protection, and strengthen the confidence of market participants, it added. The main approved elements include developing the requirements for opening an investment account for individual foreign investors residing in one of the GCC countries and expanding the types of securities they can directly invest in, including shares listed on the Main Market. Previously, their participation is limited to the debt market, the Nomu-Parallel Market, investment funds, and the derivatives market, while their ability to trade in the Main Market is limited to swap agreements as ultimate beneficiaries through capital market institutions or as clients of these institutions, where investment decisions are made on their behalf. This approval introduces a new category of investors to the shares listed on the Main Market, offering them a direct channel to invest in the Saudi capital market. This change is expected to attract more foreign investments, enhance market liquidity, and contribute to supporting the local economy. The approved amendments also allow individual foreign investors who previously resided in Saudi Arabia or one of the GCC countries to continue operating their investment accounts and invest in shares listed in the main market even after their residency has ended and they return to their home country, provided they have previously opened an investment account in Kingdom. In addition, the amendments aim to facilitate the procedures for opening and operating investment accounts for various categories of capital market institution clients. The approval of the Amendments came following the CMA's publication of the draft on November 20, 2024, regarding the ' Facilitating the Procedures for Opening and Operating Investment Accounts for Various Categories of Investors" on the Unified Electronic Platform for Consulting the Public and Government Entities (Public Consultation Platform) affiliated to the National Competitiveness Center and the CMA's website for public consultation for a period of (30) calendar days.
Japan Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Foreign buying of Japan stocks hits longest spell since 2013
Foreign investors bought Japanese stocks for 13 straight weeks to June 27, their longest buying spree since 2013, data from Japan Exchange Group showed. The persistent buying — despite lingering concerns over U.S. tariffs and still sluggish domestic consumption — likely points to diversification away from U.S. equities, as investors pare positions after Wall Street's strong showing. "It's my guess that this reflects investors trying to diversify their U.S.-concentrated portfolio,' said Shuji Hosoi, senior strategist at Daiwa Securities, noting that such shifts could last about a year. Foreign investors bought ¥339.8 billion ($2.36 billion) of Japanese equities in the week of June 23 to 27, extending their net buying which began in the first week of April, when the market had plunged following the shock of U.S. President Donald Trump's extensive tariff plan, some of which has subsequently been amended. It is the longest stretch of net purchases since their 18 straight weeks of buying from November 2012 to March 2013, when investors snagged ¥5.7 trillion of Japanese stocks following radical economic stimulus by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, or so-called Abenomics. The latest buying by foreign investors helped lift the Topix index to lofty heights. The Topix rose to a peak of 2869.07 on Monday, just off its record high of 2946.60 struck in July last year. The benchmark has lost steam since then on renewed worries about U.S. tariffs. But some analysts think their buying may wane. "There's no sense of euphoria we saw during Abenomics. I think foreign buying will slow in July,' said Kohei Onishi, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley.
Zawya
01-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Global investors scramble for Nigerian assets
Global investors are show- ing more interest in Nige- rian assets due to improv- ing economic indicators. Already, Nigeria's sovereign risk spread has fallen to the lowest level since January 2020, erasing the premium accumulated during the pandemic and subsequent strain on its economy. While US President Donald Trump's widening trade war has taken emerging markets on a wild ride, Nigeria has quietly held its own, attracting foreign capital reassured by currency reforms and other measures designed to revive the economy of Africa's most-populous nation. 'Nigeria appears to be back in business as long-awaited economic reforms take shape,' said Emre Akcakmak, portfolio manager at East Capital. Key measures include improved currency liquidity, lee- way for investors to repatriate their profit, and the stable naira. 'We feel the Central Bank of Nigeria will continue to stem any sharp appre- ciation of the naira to limit profit-tak- ing from the fast money community,' Akcakmak said. 'Portfolio inflows have likely been supported by improved confidence amid key structural reforms, better FX mar- ket functioning and moderating dollar- naira volatility, as well as the still-robust nominal yield buffer,' Samir Gadio, head of Africa strategy at Standard Chartered Plc, told Bloomberg. 'Besides, Nigeria's local market is seen as less correlated with global risk conditions than more liquid EM peers,' he added. Yields on Nigeria's $1.5bn Eurobond due in 2034 have declined to 9.69%, the lowest since its early December launch, and a domestic debt auction was three- times oversubscribed recently, with the Open Market Operation bills allotted at 21.45% versus 22.65%. Ike Chioke, managing director, Afrin- vest West Africa Limited, said the liquidity supply boost provided by Nigeria's suc- cessful pricing of $2.2bn in Eurobonds significantly strengthened the exchange rate position against the dollar. 'We anticipate the naira will regain more ground against the dollar, driv- en by the aforementioned factors,' he said. He listed other key policies of the apex bank that supported the naira rally as the clearance of the $7bn FX backlog and the resumed sales of Open Market Operation (OMO) bills to Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) at market-reflective rates. The CBN's policies, including the ex- change rate unification, have led to sig- nificant foreign capital inflows to the economy while reducing its intervention in the forex market. The flotation of the naira and the clearing of the over-$7bn FX backlog im- proved the country's outlook with foreign investors as well as multilateral organisa- tions, with the World Bank describing this as a case of bold intervention to improve the economy's sustainability in the long run. Nigeria's economy – is the pain over? Bismarck Rewane, managing director of Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, believes the economy has begun to re- cover from the toughest phase of its reform adjustments. He emphasised the importance of strategic policy implemen- tation. Rewane noted that while the funda- mentals of Nigeria's exchange rate in- dicate that the naira should be stronger, achieving stability depends on an effi- cient and effectively managed FX system. He stressed that the primary challenge lies not in the reforms themselves but in their management, citing poorly sequenced policy changes and insufficient structural reforms as significant obstacles. He underlined the critical role of in- vestment in driving economic growth. 'Revenue alone is not enough,' Rewane stated. 'Investment is key, but it will be influenced by confidence, transparency, and the right policies.' He also called attention to persistent challenges such as power supply inef- ficiencies and the lack of transparency in the oil and gas sector, which require im- mediate attention through structural re- forms. Rewane said that 2025 is going to be less hard, less painful, less difficult than last year. He said the fact that things were so difficult in 2024, does not in any way indicate that the difficulties will persist this year. Yemi Sadiku, executive director of Par-thian Group, highlighted the need for an enabling environment to attract infra- structure investment, urging the gov- ernment to create policies that encourage private sector participation. Olusegun Alebiosu, Chief Executive Of- ficer, FirstBank Group, said the improving government revenues, better revenue-to- debt service ratio at 68% and the growth in foreign reserve balances to over $40bn, represent positive indicators for the econ- omy. He further said: 'Early signs such as the stability that characterised the forex mar- ket after the introduction of the electronic foreign exchange matching system; the emergence of competition on the supply side of our nation's downstream sector that is leading to falling prices in premium motor spirit (PMS); and the coming back on stream of the Port Harcourt & Warri refineries are indicative that there is, in- deed, light at the end of the tunnel for us as a country.' Alebiosu said the sheer timing of the emergence of these developments has strengthened optimism about the Nige- rian economy. © Copyright IC Publications 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
