Business

QatarEnergy has signed agreements with BG International Limited, a company affiliated with Shell, to acquire participating interests in three offshore exploration areas off the coast of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.In a statement issued today, QatarEnergy said that under the agreements it acquired an 18% interest in the OFF‑4 exploration block, while Shell retained a 32% stake and APA Corporation (the operator) holds 50%.QatarEnergy also acquired a 30% interest in the OFF‑2 block, while Shell (the operator) holds the remaining 70%.As for the third exploration area, OFF‑7, QatarEnergy acquired a 30% stake, alongside Shell (the operator) with 40%, and Chevron with 30%."We are pleased to strengthen our relations with our strategic partner Shell through these agreements, which mark our first entry into Uruguay's upstream sector while further expanding our footprint in South America," HE Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said."We thank the Uruguayan authorities for their support, and look forward to working with our partners on this opportunity and to achieve positive results that benefit all parties,” HE added.The offshore areas OFF‑2, OFF‑4, and OFF‑7 are located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Uruguay, covering areas ranging between 11,155 and 18,227 square kilometres, in water depths ranging from 40 metres to 4,000 metres.

The online brokerage industry has spent much of the past decade promising speed. Faster deposits, faster execution, faster access to global markets. Yet speed alone is no longer enough. For a new generation of traders, the real problem is not whether they can enter a market quickly. It is whether they can make sense of that market with enough clarity to act well.This is the space PipVertex wants to occupy.The brand presents itself as a modern financial brokerage platform built around focus, control and multi-asset access. Its proposition is straightforward: give traders access to global markets, place the tools they need in one clean environment, and reduce the friction that often comes with overcomplicated trading platforms.That may sound simple, but in online trading simplicity is difficult to achieve. Platforms tend to expand by adding more indicators, more menus, more notifications and more account features. The result is often a screen that looks powerful but feels crowded. PipVertex is attempting to move in the opposite direction. Its language centres on clarity, fast execution, real-time insights, secure access and a more disciplined trading experience.The timing is notable. Retail and active investors are increasingly global in their behaviour. A trader may watch currencies in the morning, equities during the US session, metals during periods of inflation concern, and commodities when geopolitics reshapes supply. A platform that separates each of these worlds too sharply risks feeling outdated. PipVertex’s multi-asset positioning reflects the way many modern traders already think: across markets, across devices and across time zones.Its offering spans forex, stocks, energy, precious metals, soft commodities, indices and digital assets. This breadth matters less as a catalogue and more as a statement of intent. PipVertex is not presenting itself as a narrow execution venue. It is aiming to become a trading environment where users can monitor several parts of the financial system from one place.The company’s emphasis on design is also telling. In finance, design is often treated as decoration. In practice, it shapes behaviour. A clean dashboard can reduce hesitation. A clear alert can focus attention. A better charting interface can change how quickly a trader understands price movement. PipVertex appears to understand that the interface is not secondary to the trading experience. It is part of the product itself.The brand also leans heavily on support. Its website describes personalised assistance, sales manager access, analyst insight and education resources. This is significant because online brokerages face a trust challenge. Many users want independence, but not isolation. They want control over their own strategy while still having access to explanations, account guidance and market context. PipVertex’s line, “We provide the tools. You set the strategy”, captures that balance neatly.There are, however, details that matter greatly in this industry. A brokerage brand seeking credibility with sophisticated investors and financial media must be precise about regulation, jurisdiction, product availability, leverage, spreads, bonuses and account benefits. Claims around interest on account balances, protected trades and high leverage require especially careful treatment. In financial services, polished language can attract attention, but verified details build trust.That is the central challenge for PipVertex. Its brand story is strong because it speaks to a real market need: traders want platforms that are powerful without being noisy. But to earn a durable place in the brokerage market, it will need to pair that story with transparency, operational consistency and clear regulatory communication.Still, the direction is commercially intelligent. The future of online trading will not belong only to the platform with the most tools. It will belong to platforms that help traders use those tools with discipline. PipVertex is entering the conversation with a clear message: trading should feel sharper, cleaner and more controlled.In a market crowded with promises of access, PipVertex is trying to sell something more valuable: focus.

Ooredoo announced the launch of IoT SecureConnect, an operator‑led Zero Trust security solution designed specifically for connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices, marking a first-of-its-kind innovation in Qatar. As IoT adoption accelerates across a wide range of sectors, including smart cities, healthcare, logistics, energy, oil and gas, industrial, banking, and government sectors, businesses are facing increasingly sophisticated cyber threats targeting connected devices. Traditional security approaches are no longer sufficient to address these evolving risks. IoT SecureConnect introduces a new standard of protection, built on Zero Trust principles that continuously verify every device, ensuring secure connectivity, enhanced data privacy, and operational resilience at scale. Designed to address the growing complexity of IoT environments, IoT SecureConnect delivers continuous verification of every connected device, proactive defence against evolving cyber threats, alignment with local and global regulatory standards, works effortlessly with an existing IoT infrastructure, and built to ensure long-term resilience and scalability. Ooredoo Qatar chief business officer Hassan Ismail al-Emadi said, “We are committed to providing businesses with secure, future-ready digital solutions. With IoT SecureConnect, Ooredoo is redefining how organisations protect their connected ecosystems, empowering them to innovate with confidence while maintaining the highest standards of security and trust.”

Hailing the Minister of Commerce and Industry’s decision to regulate online commerce as a “major shift”, Sharq Law Firm has said it introduces a “structured approach” to address a gap that has become increasingly apparent with the growth of the online business activity. The Minister of Commerce and Industry’s Decision No 25 of 2026 establish the conditions and limitations governing the conduct of commercial activities through websites where such activities do not require a physical presence.This comes against the backdrop of the market estimates, which indicate that social commerce in Qatar is projected to generate about $1.2bn in revenue in 2026, reflecting both the scale of participation and the level of consumer engagement in digital transactions. The ministerial decision “introduces a structured approach to the regulation of digital commerce, addressing a gap that has become increasingly apparent with the growth of online business activity. By extending licensing requirements and introducing defined compliance obligations, it brings digital transactions within the scope of formal regulation,” Sharq Law Firm said in a note. Stressing that further development would be required to ensure consistent application; it said clarification through executive guidance, proportionate licensing models, and clearer thresholds for commercial activity would contribute to greater certainty.“The framework’s effectiveness will depend less on its scope than on its application. Its ability to adapt to evolving business models while maintaining clarity and enforceability will determine its role in shaping the future of digital commerce in Qatar,” it said. Highlighting that over the past decade, Qatar’s commercial landscape has undergone ‘a quiet but decisive transformation’; it said this shift is not confined to conventional ecommerce websites. It is most visible in the everyday use of social media platforms, particularly Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok, as primary tools for marketing, selling, and delivering goods and services, according to the law firm. Finding that commercial regulation in Qatar has historically been built around the concept of a physical place of business, with licensing, registration, and oversight mechanisms tied to that premise; the note said digital-only activity does not fit neatly within that model. “As a result, a significant portion of online commercial activity has developed in a space that is only partially regulated, raising questions relating to consumer protection, market fairness, and enforceability,” it said, adding the Minister of Commerce and Industry’s decision must be understood against this backdrop. “Rather than introducing an entirely new regulatory system, it addresses a specific gap: the absence of a clear framework governing commercial activity conducted exclusively through electronic websites...In doing so, it reflects a shift in regulatory focus, from where business is conducted to how it is conducted, while leaving open questions as to how this framework will operate in practice,” it said. Pointing out that a “significant” portion of economic activity now occurs without any physical interface between the business and the consumer; Sharq Law Firm said by recognising and regulating activity conducted through electronic websites, the decision acknowledges this shift.

Asian markets extended their losses on Wednesday as surging bond yields and stubborn inflation concerns knocked investor confidence already shaken by US President Donald Trump's renewed threats to strike Iran.In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 closed down 1.2% to 59,804.41 points; Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index ended down 0.6% to 25,655.37 points and Shanghai - Composite closed down 0.2% to 4,162.18 points Wednesday.Regional equities tracked losses in Wall Street, where the S&P 500 and the tech-rich Nasdaq posted a third straight day of declines, with the yield on the 30-year US Treasury climbing to levels last seen in 2007.High energy prices sparked by the Middle East war have fuelled fears of inflation, in turn prompting the bond sell-off.Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he had been just "an hour away" from relaunching Washington's attacks on Iran before postponing the order, after weeks of a fragile truce and stalled talks to end the war that began late February."You know how it is to negotiate with a country where you're beating them badly. They come to the table, they're begging to make a deal," he said."I hope we don't have to do the war, but we may have to give them another big hit. I'm not sure yet."Iran's army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia warned that the Islamic republic would "open new fronts against" the United States if it resumed its attacks.Trump offered a deadline of several days for resuming strikes if a deal was not agreed."I'm saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week, a limited period of time," he said.Since the United States and Israel began their war with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz -- a key energy corridor which normally sees 20% of global crude transit through -- has been effectively closed to shipping.Brent, the international benchmark, remained above $110 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate topped $103, raising concerns that inflation could remain elevated for longer and erode corporate margins as well as consumer demand.Across Asia, most markets were in the red. Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Wellington, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur were down while Bangkok was in the green.The retreat comes just days after a tech-driven rally pushed global equities to fresh highs.But investors are increasingly questioning whether the artificial intelligence-led surge in valuations has outrun underlying fundamentals.A workers' dispute at South Korean chip giant Samsung Electronics threatened to turn into a strike, after talks on bonus payouts collapsed on Wednesday. But talks resumed with government intervention.The threat of industrial action at Samsung -- potentially involving tens of thousands of employees -- has triggered alarm in Seoul, where officials warn prolonged disruption could ripple through exports, chip output and wider economic growth.Attention is also turning to upcoming earnings from chip giant Nvidia as investors determine whether huge spending on AI data centres is justified by potential returns.Gold and silver, typically seen as safe-haven assets, held near recent losses as rising yields reduced their appeal.

QatarEnergy has acquired participating interests in three exploration blocks offshore Uruguay from BG International Limited, a subsidiary of Shell.Under the agreements, QatarEnergy has acquired an 18% interest in block ‘OFF-4’, while Shell held 32%, and APA Corporation (the operator) retained the remaining 50%.QatarEnergy has also acquired a 30% interest in block ‘OFF-2’, which is operated by Shell with a 70% interest.In the third exploration block ‘OFF-7’, QatarEnergy has acquired a 30% interest, with Shell (the operator) retaining 40%, and Chevron holding the remaining 30%.Commenting on the transaction, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs His Excellency Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, who is also president and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: “We are pleased to strengthen our relations with our strategic partner Shell through these agreements, which mark our first entry into Uruguay’s upstream sector while further expanding our footprint in South America.”Al-Kaabi added: “We would like to thank the Uruguayan authorities for their support, and we look forward to working with our partners on this opportunity and to achieving positive results for the benefit of all parties.”Blocks OFF-2, OFF-4, and OFF-7 are located offshore Uruguay’s Atlantic coast, covering areas ranging from 11,155 to 18,227sq km and water depths ranging from 40 to 4,000 metres.

Artificial intelligence-assisted tools have been instrumental in narrowing the gap between a startup idea and a working product, allowing founders and developers to build apps, websites, data tools, and business products without writing a single line of traditional code. This was among the key themes discussed during a hands-on workshop organised by Startup Grind Doha, in collaboration with Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), which drew more than 100 founders, developers, creators, and technology enthusiasts to explore how AI is reshaping software and startup creation. Held at QSTP, the ‘Ship Anything with Replit Agent 4’ workshop showcased how startups and entrepreneurs can rapidly move from idea to execution by building apps, websites, data tools, and business products directly through AI-assisted workflows.The session featured Abdulrahman Aldhalaan, a member of the growth team at Replit, who led participants through the capabilities of Replit Agent 4, an AI-powered development system designed to help users plan, design, build, and launch products through natural language. Attendees also received access to Replit to continue experimenting and building on the platform after the event. The workshop comes as Replit, whose platform underpinned the session, closed a $400mn Series D funding round that tripled its valuation to $9bn, with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) among participants. QSTP programme director Hayfa al-Abdulla emphasised that providing access to global technologies and practical innovation experiences remains central to its role in Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Al-Abdulla said, “QSTP is committed to advancing Qatar’s innovation ecosystem by connecting global technologies with local talent and entrepreneurs. Hosting workshops like ‘Ship Anything with Replit Agent 4’ reflects our focus on delivering hands-on experiences that turn innovation into real impact.” Aldhalaan noted that Replit is witnessing “incredible momentum” across the region from founders and builders who want to move faster and turn ideas into products with the help of AI. “Replit Agent 4 is designed to make software creation dramatically more accessible, and it was exciting to see the enthusiasm and creativity from the community in Doha,” he explained. Indica Amarasinghe, chapter director of Startup Grind Doha, said: “AI is fundamentally changing how startups are built.”

The Qatar–Pakistan Joint Business Council held its inaugural session yesterday via video conference, bringing together senior representatives from both countries to strengthen economic and commercial co-operation. The session was attended by Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed bin Ahmed al-Obaidli, who is also chairman of the council’s Qatari side; Zaki Aijaz, vice president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI); and Mehmood Arshad, chairman of the Pakistan Chapter of the Qatar–Pakistan Joint Business Council; as well as the Embassy of Pakistan’s commercial attaché. In his remarks, al-Obaidli highlighted the steadily growing relations between Qatar and Pakistan, supported by high-level visits and agreements across various sectors. He noted that bilateral trade reached QR11.8bn in 2025, reflecting strong economic ties. He emphasised that the council serves as a key platform for exploring new investment opportunities and strengthening private-sector partnerships, reaffirming Qatar Chamber’s commitment to supporting enhanced trade and investment co-operation. Al-Obaidli underscored Pakistan’s role as a strategic economic partner, with its dynamic market, skilled workforce, and diverse investment opportunities, while highlighting Qatar’s attractive investment environment aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030. He also stressed the importance of co-operation in several key economic sectors, such as technology, banking, and food security, which provide a qualitative addition to both parties. For his part, Aijaz said the Joint Business Council constitutes an important platform for enhancing co-operation between the Pakistani and Qatari business communities.He lauded the ongoing co-operation between the Federation of Pakistan Chambers and Qatar Chamber, which led to the council’s activation. He noted that Pakistan offers promising investment opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, food security, tourism, logistics, manufacturing, and infrastructure.He called on Qatari investors to explore these opportunities and invest in Pakistan, which welcomes Qatari investments. In turn, Arshad praised the strong economic ties between Pakistan and Qatar, stressing the important role of the private sector in expanding bilateral co-operation.He noted that the business council will enhance communication between businessmen from both sides and help explore investment and partnership opportunities that support greater trade exchange and mutual economic benefits.

Oil market supply tight through 2026 despite Hormuz reopening: Moody’s Oil market may remain supply-constrained with persistently higher and volatile energy prices, leading to broader “knock-on” effects, even if safe passage through the Hormuz Strait were to resume in the next six months, according to Moody’s, an international credit rating agency. Cautioning that the knock-on effects are expected through costs, demand and financing conditions for exposed borrowers; Moody’s said “these lasting supply constraints, combined with embedded geopolitical risks, will result in persistently higher energy prices, with Brent crude averaging $90-$110 a barrel (bbl) through much of the year.” Persistently higher energy prices will lead to increases in inflation and production costs, limiting household purchasing power, complicating the path for monetary policy across major economies and tightening financing conditions, it said in a report. Highlighting that it now sees a single, central scenario which assumes a prolonged and significant disruption to the Strait of Hormuz through autumn; Moody’s said under this scenario, it continues to assume no major damage to key production facilities or infrastructure, but expects sustained disruption to shipping, including energy supplies and related products, through autumn of 2026. “Transit flows should gradually improve from current levels as oil importers bilaterally negotiates passage, though a return to pre-conflict traffic volumes is unlikely,” it said. Even where mitigating factors emerge - such as an early negotiated settlement, faster-than-expected improvement in transit flows, or higher non-Opec supply - any improvement in credit conditions will be gradual, with normalisation still taking several months, it said, expecting geopolitical uncertainty to persist through much of the year, alongside ongoing vulnerabilities in energy markets and supply chains. Expecting transit flows to gradually improve, but through bilateral channels rather than a general reopening; it said oil importers — particularly China, India, Japan and Republic of Korea — to negotiate passage bilaterally with Iran, potentially through coordinated transit corridors such as those reportedly emerging near Larak Island and through Omani territorial waters. “This would allow some incremental improvement in energy transit flows from near zero now, but the process will be slow, opaque and subject to interruption. A return to pre-conflict traffic volumes in 2026 is unlikely,” it added. Finding that core energy infrastructure in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region has not suffered lasting damage, it said the supply shock is driven by the disruption to transit, not the destruction of productive capacity. Highlighting that the Strait disruption is no longer a short-lived supply interruption buffered by inventories but is now a structural supply constraint drawing down global stocks, constraining refinery throughput and keeping crude and refined product prices persistently high; Moody’s said the effects extend beyond crude. “Qatar supplies around 20% of worldwide LNG (liquefied natural gas) trade, almost all of which transits the Strait. Prolonged disruption will keep prices high for natural gas, particularly in Europe and Asia, and also for fertilisers, aluminium and other industrial inputs, with knock-on effects on food prices,” it said.

Japanese economic growth surpassed expectations at the start of 2026, official data showed on Tuesday, but Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is mulling an extra budget as concerns grow over inflation due to the Middle East war.Gross domestic product (GDP) in the world's fourth-biggest economy expanded 0.5% in the first quarter, exceeding market forecasts of 0.4%.Growth in private consumption and corporate investment contributed to the expansion, according to the cabinet office data.It follows growth of 0.2% -- revised downwards from an earlier reading of 0.3% -- in the last quarter of 2025.The data came as Takaichi plans to draft a supplementary budget in a bid to safeguard growth, as consumers face soaring prices of everything from energy to rice due to the Middle East conflict."Given the continuing uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East, it is important to closely monitor the trend of prices and the impact on the economy," the government's top spokesman Minoru Kihara told reporters Tuesday, adding that Takaichi had instructed the minister of finance to consider arrangements to minimise risk.Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics warned the Middle East conflict was likely to impact data going forward."Japan's economy approached the Iran war with solid momentum but we think that GDP growth will grind to a halt this quarter and next," he wrote in a note.Japan has been trying to stem rising oil prices with government subsidies, but the nation is likely to feel the full impact of soaring energy prices in months ahead, Thieliant said.The country depends on the Middle East for around 95% of its oil imports.Already consumer confidence has begun to slump, Thieliant added.The Bank of Japan (BoJ) said it expected consumer prices to rise 2.8% in the current fiscal year, compared with the 1.9% previously forecast, due to the impact of the conflict. It lifted next year's outlook to 2.3% from 2.0%.This could prompt it to raise interest rates as early as June.It also slashed its fiscal 2026 growth forecast to 0.5% from 1.0%, and for next year trimmed its projection to 0.7% from 0.8%.Taro Saito of the NLI Research Institute said that "disruptions in logistics will trigger production adjustments, while the deterioration of terms of trade due to soaring crude oil prices will put downward pressure on corporate profits and the real purchasing power of households".Expectations of monetary tightening, along with concerns over Takaichi's fiscal policy, have helped drive a sharp rise in Japanese government bond yields in recent days.Japan is also believed to have spent tens of billions of dollars in the market to boost the value of the yen, which has weakened in recent months due to the global uncertainty, as well as the gap between US and Japanese interest rates.A weaker yen makes the cost of imports more expensive in Japan, which relies on foreign countries for much of its energy and food needs.

Asian markets wavered on Tuesday, with tech stocks leading losses as investors tracked easing oil prices and cautious optimism over a potential US-Iran deal.In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 closed down 0.4% to 60,550.59 points; Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index ended up 0.5% to 25,797.85 points and Shanghai - Composite closed up 0.9% to 4,169.54 points Tuesday.South Korea's Kospi slid by more than 3.0%, as tech stocks lost ground tracking an overnight slump on Wall Street.But it was the energy markets that drew attention after US President Donald Trump signalled "serious negotiations" with Tehran and called off planned strikes, boosting optimism that tensions could reduce.The war the United States and Israel launched February 28 has led to an effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of global oil exports passed in peacetime.The leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates asked Trump "to hold off on our planned military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place", the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform on Monday.But Trump added that he instructed the US military to be "prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment's notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached".Speaking later at a White House event, Trump said there had been a "very positive development" and that Arab allies said a deal was near that would leave Iran without nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies pursuing."There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I'd be very happy," Trump said.The prospect of diplomacy drove the dip in oil, but sentiment remained fragile across equity markets as elevated energy costs continue to fuel inflation risks and cloud the outlook for interest rates."The durability of this de-escalation -- and whether it translates into a sustained decline in oil prices -- remains the single most important driver for global bond yields and Asia EM currencies in today's session," said Michael Wan of financial group MUFG.International benchmark Brent was hovering around $110 and West Texas Intermediate at $108, cooler than the previous day but still up about 80% this year owing to the Middle East war, according to Bloomberg News.Equity performance was mixed, and tech stocks in Asia retreated.In South Korea, artificial intelligence heavyweight SK hynix slid more than 5.0% and Samsung Electronics by 1.24%.Samsung Electronics -- which has also profited massively from the AI memory chip boom -- resumed union talks in a bid to avoid a strike over bonus payments.Tokyo's Nikkei 225 closed modestly lower, with jitters offset by stronger-than-expected economic data. Japan's gross domestic product expanded 0.5% in the first quarter, exceeding market forecasts of 0.4%.Jakarta fell by more than 3.0%. Taipei, Bangkok and Manila were also down.Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Wellington, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur were ahead.In Europe, London, Paris and Frankfurt were trading in the green.Safe-haven demand was higher, with precious metals gold and silver edging up, underscoring investor wariness.All eyes are on Wednesday's quarterly results from US chip titan Nvidia, which will be scrutinised as investors question whether huge spending on AI data centres is justified by potential returns.

His Excellency the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari met in Paris with chief executives of major French companies that are members of the Qatar-France Economic Association (Qadran), during a roundtable organised by the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the French Republic.During the meeting, discussions focused on ways to strengthen the framework of joint co-operation and further consolidate bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the French Republic, in addition to reviewing key investment opportunities and economic developments of mutual interest.The meeting also discussed the importance of enhancing economic partnerships between both sides in a manner that supports investment growth and broadens prospects for co-operation between Qatari and French institutions.Qadran is an independent non-profit organisation established in 2015. Its membership includes leading Qatari commercial institutions operating in France, alongside major French companies operating in the State of Qatar and influential economic figures.The organisation aims to host annual academic and social events that promote dialogue and the exchange of perspectives between Qatari and French companies, providing a platform for multilateral economic discussions among senior officials and decision-makers.

Nebras Energy’s Ordinary General Assembly approved Tuesday the results of the elections to fill two independent seats on the board of directors for the 2026-2028 term.His Excellency the Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, who is also president and CEO of QatarEnergy, and chairman of Nebras Energy, presided over the meeting, which was held via Zoom.During the meeting, the victory of two independent members was announced by secret ballot, and the list of reserves was approved according to the result of the vote.

Qatar's Import Unit Value Index (IMUVI) reached 112.16 points in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 1.28% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, and a year-on-year expansion of 3.03% against the corresponding quarter of 2025.According to data released by the National Planning Council, the IMUVI tracks 10 primary commodity groups classified under the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC4).A sequential analysis comparing the first quarter of 2026 with the fourth quarter of 2025 reveals upward movements across nine commodity groups.This growth was led by commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere, which surged by 18.44%. Prices for mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials rose by 2.84%, followed by food and live animals at 2.06%, and beverages and tobacco at 1.86%.Additional gains were recorded in miscellaneous manufactured articles at 0.56%, machinery and transport equipment at 0.56%, chemicals and related products at 0.44%, manufactured goods classified chiefly by material at 0.25%, and crude materials (inedible, except fuels) at 0.20%.Conversely, the animal and vegetable oils, fats, and waxes sector recorded a contraction of 0.35% during the same period. On an annual basis, comparing the first quarter of 2026 with the same period in 2025, the index registered increases across nine groups.The growth was primarily driven by a 73.62% surge in commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere.Animal and vegetable oils, fats, and waxes expanded by 8.64%, while mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials appreciated by 6.87%. Increments were also observed in chemicals and related products at 3.06%, food and live animals at 2.15%, machinery and transport equipment at 1.43%, miscellaneous manufactured articles at 1.29%, manufactured goods classified chiefly by material at 1.21%, and beverages and tobacco at 0.85%.In contrast, crude materials (inedible, except fuels) experienced a year-on-year decline of 4.89%.

The Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) hosted a student delegation from various schools and educational levels as part of efforts to promote alternative dispute resolution. The visits, organised by the centre, in co-operation with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Ambassadors Centre, included a comprehensive introductory programme during which the centre’s experts delivered awareness lectures on the nature of arbitration and its importance as a modern means of dispute resolution, in addition to reviewing its fundamentals and most prominent applications in Qatar. It also organised a practical simulation of a real arbitration session, in which students participated in different roles, with the aim of familiarising them with the mechanisms of arbitration sessions and the roles of arbitrators, lawyers, and disputing parties. Ibrahim Shahbek, secretary general of QICCA, stressed that the initiative comes within a broader national strategy aimed at spreading the culture of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution methods within Qatari society and among younger generations, thereby contributing to strengthening the rule of law and enhancing the country’s business environment. In turn, the participating students and accompanying supervisors expressed their appreciation for this interactive experience, praising the importance of enhancing legal awareness among young people and linking theoretical knowledge with practical application in the fields of arbitration and dispute resolution.

Brightened hopes of negotiations to end the Iran war had its positive influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which Tuesday snapped two days of bearish spell to gain more than 46 points, adding in excess of QR3bn in capitalisation. The industrials, real estate and telecom counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.45% to 10,418.28 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,433 points. Positive momentum was visible in the regional bourses after the US President Donald Trump said he had paused a planned attack on Iran to allow negotiations on a deal to end the war, easing investor concerns over a wider Middle East conflict. The QSE truncated its year-to-date losses to 3.2%. About 78% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR3.26bn or 0.53% to QR622.8bn, mainly owing to midcap segments. The local retail investors were seen increasingly net buyers in the main market, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline. The foreign institutions’ weakened net profit booking had its influence on the main bourse, which saw as many as 9,339 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.05mn trade across 12 deals. The domestic funds continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 10 sovereign bonds valued at QR0.1mn changes hands across one transaction. The Islamic index was seen outperforming other indices of the main bourse, which saw a total of 5,000 sovereign sukuks valued at QR50.3mn trade across two deals. The Total Return Index rose 0.45%, the All Share Index by 0.45% and the Al Rayan Islamic Index by 0.55% in the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The industrials sector index gained 0.67%, telecom (0.64%), realty (0.62%), consumer goods and services (0.45%), insurance (0.43%) and banks and financial services (0.4%); while transport was down 0.03%. As many as 42 gained, while only six decreased and six were unchanged in the main market. Major movers in the main market included Al Khaleej Takaful, Baladna, Estithmar Holding, Widam Food, Doha Insurance, Ahlibank Qatar, Salam International Investment, Qatar German Medical Devices, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Gulf International Services, Qamco, Ezdan, Vodafone Qatar and Gulf Warehousing.

A small European Central Bank (ECB) interest-rate increase could temper inflation without causing economic damage, Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras told Liberal.gr.“A significant but temporary excess over the inflation target would mean a measured adjustment of monetary policy in a more restrictive direction in the near future, in order to limit the intensity of second-round effects, without disproportionately affecting economic activity,” the Greek central bank was cited as saying.Markets and economists are betting on a quarter-point hike at the ECB’s June meeting, with several policymakers indicating they would back such a step. Still, some have been less direct, instead holding out for more incoming economic data.“The duration and intensity of the energy shock, as well as the mechanisms through which it is transmitted to the real economy, will also determine our response,” Stournaras said. “We will continue to closely assess all available data and remain ready to set policy rates at levels consistent with maintaining price stability over the medium term.”The typically dovish central banker highlighted that there “currently is no strong evidence” of second-round effects, but warned of heightened uncertainty.“Damage to energy infrastructure in the Gulf could prolong inflationary pressures over the medium term,” he said. “Longer delivery times and rising input costs suggest that supply chains are coming under increasing pressure.”

Commerzbank AG dismissed UniCredit SpA’s €37bn ($43bn) takeover bid as too low and urged investors to spurn it, further ratcheting up the heat in the 19-month-long takeover saga.UniCredit “does not offer an adequate premium to our shareholders,” Commerzbank Chief Executive Officer Bettina Orlopp said in a statement on Monday, reflecting the formal assessment by the bank’s management board and supervisory board.Commerzbank is open to talks if UniCredit improves the offer and presents a strategy for the combined entity that “builds on the strengths” of its business model, it said. However, UniCredit’s current proposals rely on synergy estimates that are “neither robust nor convincing” and they would “weaken” the bank’s ability to serve German companies, it said.UniCredit is offering 0.485 of its own shares for each one in its German rival, valuing the target at roughly €37bn at Friday’s close. Commerzbank’s market value was about €39bn. UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel has floated the option of improving the bid if there’s strong investor take-up or talks with Commerzbank.The Italian lender said in a statement following Commerzbank’s release on Monday that “we fundamentally disagree with many of the arguments put forward and find them to be without merit or substantiating data.” It added that a fuller response will be published “in due course.”The exchange between the two banks escalates tensions that have been bubbling ever since Orcel started openly pursuing Commerzbank in September 2024 in an effort to expand operations in Europe’s largest economy. Orcel unveiled a formal takeover offer in March, which was submitted to Commerzbank investors earlier this month and runs through June 16.Commerzbank has since repeatedly criticised UniCredit’s tactics and accused the Italian bank of seeking to talk down its valuation. It renewed that critique on Monday saying that any talks with UniCredit would require a relationship of trust. That has been “severely undermined” by the Italian lender’s “uncoordinated conduct and its repeatedly misleading communications,” it said.The German government, which is Commerzbank’s second-largest investor with a shareholding of about 12%, is vehemently opposed to the deal.Orlopp and Orcel held talks about the offer earlier this year but the meetings ended up in disagreement and ultimately deepened divisions between the two. While UniCredit has said that a takeover would improve Commerzbank’s profitability through substantial cost cuts, the German lender has dismissed the proposals as unrealistic and said they would cause revenue loss.Commerzbank has also accused UniCredit of using “misleading” representations in the strategy proposals it has made for the German bank.“UniCredit is inaccurately assessing the revenue losses, cost saving potential, and restructuring costs as well as the time required to implement its planned measures,” Commerzbank said in the release on Monday. “This applies in particular to the headcount reductions envisaged by UniCredit, the complex IT integration, and revenue losses arising from overlaps in the Corporate Clients business.”The price offered by UniCredit has been below Commerzbank’s market value for some time and very few shares have been tendered so far.UniCredit currently owns close to 27% in Commerzbank through direct shares and it controls another 12% of voting rights through derivatives, with most of those instruments only allowing for cash settlement, according to the latest regulatory filing.Commerzbank had been widely expected to reject the offer. Shares in both firms largely maintained earlier losses after the release.Commerzbank will hold its annual general meeting on May 20. Over the past five years, the participation rate at its AGMs has always been below 70% of the share capital.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal al-Thani, the chief executive officer of the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ), recently held a meeting with Syahda Guruh Langkah Samudera, the ambassador of Indonesia to Qatar. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral co-operation in the fields of free zones and investment between the two countries. The meeting also highlighted the investment opportunities and outstanding benefits offered by QFZ and supported by the country’s advanced infrastructure. The meeting was attended by senior officials from QFZ and was followed by an introductory tour in the Business Innovation Park at Ras Bufontas Free Zone.

His Excellency Vice Chairman of the Board of the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) at the Qatar Chamber Dr. Sheikh Thani bin Ali bin Saud Al-Thani emphasised the State of Qatar's strong focus on developing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms.In his remarks at the ceremony of the "Accelerated Track Qualifying for Membership” program, organized by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Qatar Branch, he pointed out that this commitment is reflected in modern legislation, including the Arbitration Law and the Mediation Law, which enhance the country’s legal and investment environment.His Excellency also urged trainees to continue their professional development and keep pace with global advancements in arbitration, stressing the importance of preparing qualified national talent aligned with international best practices.HE Dr. Sheikh Thani bin Ali bin Saud Al-Thani praised the role of specialised training programs in strengthening legal expertise and reinforcing Qatar’s position as a leading regional hub for arbitration and dispute resolution.QICCA seeks to enhance cooperation with the CIArb and develop expertise in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.The center signed a cooperation agreement with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on the sidelines of the annual conference of the QICCA, held in November 2024, aimed to spread the culture of arbitration and alternative means of dispute resolution within the State of Qatar, and to enhance legal and professional awareness in this vital field.