Business Blog

Asset management firm Arabesque has received regulatory approval to start operations with its value-based investment strategies, which also combine religious and ethical principles - the latest addition to Britain's Islamic finance sector.

DUBAI, June 17 (Reuters) - Here are some factors that may affect Middle East stock markets on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified the press reports and does not vouch of their accuracy.INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares soft on anxiety over Iraq, Ukraine MKTS/GLOB* Brent crude oil higher as Iraq conflict fuels supply worryO/R* Gold steady near 3-week top on safe haven bids from Iraq

United Arab Emirates-based lender National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah RAKB.AD (RAKBANK) has given initial price thoughts in the area of 170 basis points over midswaps for its benchmark-sized five-year debut bond.

(Updates ahead of Wall Street open, adds U.S. business survey data) * Main European bourses 0.3-0.5 pct lower as Iraq, Ukraine tensions weigh * Crude near 9-month highs on fears of impact of Iraqi insurgency * Wall Street seen down, Nikkei skids to two-week closing low * Fed meeting, China house price data in focus this week By Marc Jones LONDON, June 16 (Reute

Middle Eastern investors are expected to spendUSD180 billion in commercial real estate markets outside of their own region over the next decade, according to the latest research from global property advisor CBRE.

Fighting in Iraq and Ukraine drove a global shift into traditional safe-haven currencies, precious metals and bonds on Monday, and kept oil near a nine-month high.