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Factory activity across Europe and Asia expanded last month as demand, partly boosted by the global AI spending boom, remained strong even as the energy price shock from the Iran war kept inflation elevated, surveys showed on Thursday.Rising inflation pressures across the globe have pushed several central banks, including the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, to start hiking interest rates, with more increases expected. This has contributed to a sharp selloff in bond markets, pushing up borrowing costs for firms already hit by increased production costs.However, surveys show that, for now, many factories are reaping the benefit of a surge in demand for their products.S&P Global's Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 52.9 in September from 52.7 in August, its highest level since May 2022, partly due to stronger demand for artificial intelligence-related goods.Growth was broad-based across the bloc, with the Netherlands leading the expansion. Germany, the region's largest economy, recorded solid growth while expansion was modest in France, Italy and Spain."The PMIs continue to paint a stronger picture of euro zone industry than the latest data. The sustained strength in surveys points to building underlying momentum over Q3 and to improved industrial support for growth," said Iain Simmons, economist at Oxford Economics."The strength was concentrated in demand for capital goods, specifically AI and defence equipment, while consumer goods demand fell amid price pressure... However, faster cost and selling-price expectations will weigh on the outlook, so we expect the sector’s contribution to be stronger but uneven in Q3," Simmons said.In Asia, manufacturing in major exporters Japan, Republic of Korea and Taiwan also improved last month, benefiting from AI optimism.Korea, in particular, saw factory activity grow in September at the biggest margin in 4 months, as export demand grew at the fastest pace in 15-1/2 years.Taiwan, a key player in the AI field, saw its PMI hit 56.7 in September, up from 54.7 in August. The 50-level divides expansion from contraction."Both new orders and production growth hit the highest for around five-and-a-half years, with anecdotal evidence often linking the expansions to the combined strength of the semiconductor and automotive sectors," said Usamah Bhatti, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, about Korea.On Wednesday, surveys showed that China's factory activity also expanded last month as easing weather disruptions allowed factories to resume operations.Japan's S&P Global PMI declined in September to its weakest in six months as output and new orders slowed, although new export orders rose for a ninth straight month due to robust demand from Asia and improved sales to the US.Still, cost pressures remained elevated with firms continuing to raise selling prices at one of the sharpest rates since late 2022, the Japanese survey showed.India's manufacturing sector expanded at the fastest pace in seven months, reviving hiring and lifting business confidence.Factory activity for other Asian economies was patchy. While Indonesia and Vietnam saw activity expand, the Philippines and Malaysia contracted, surveys showed. 

Growth in the euro zone's dominant services industry slipped to a two-month low in August though solid and broad-based demand kept overall private sector activity on an even keel, a survey showed on Thursday. The S&P Global Eurozone Services PMI eased slightly to 51.6 in August from 51.7, a tad lower than a preliminary estimate for no change from last month. The composite index, which combines services and manufacturing, remained close to its long-run average of 52.3, coming in at 52.0 and suggesting the bloc's private sector is expanding at a steady, if unspectacular, pace. A reading above 50.0 indicates growth. "August's PMI data puts the euro area on track for a solid quarter of growth in Q3. Momentum in the industrial economy has picked up nicely and the service sector has shaken off the initial weakness seen after energy prices surged at the start of the Middle East war," said Joe Hayes, senior principal economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. New business in the services industry — a key gauge of demand — rose solidly again in August, though the gain was driven by domestic sales as overseas orders fell. Still, stronger demand for manufactured goods meant overall private sector export orders rose for the first time in four-and-a-half years. Services employment grew at its fastest pace in eight months, extending a positive trend in place since June. Across the private sector as a whole, August marked the first month of net job creation this year. On prices, services sector input costs and output charges both climbed to three-month highs in August. In the composite PMI, input cost inflation edged down fractionally while output price growth was unchanged. Price pressures remain elevated by historical standards and above the levels seen before the outbreak of the US.-Israeli war with Iran. "It's noteworthy that the August data indicated a stalling of the disinflationary trend witnessed since the PMI prices indices peaked in May. Taken alongside the resilience in economic activity as illustrated by the latest figures, the European Central Bank may feel a tightening of policy at next week's meeting is now justified," Hayes added. Inflation in the bloc rose back above 3% last month, official data showed on Tuesday, and ECB policymakers are expected to raise interest rates on September 10. Spain and Italy led growth across the euro zone, while Germany posted its quickest expansion since March. France, however, bucked the regional trend, recording its eighth consecutive month of declining activity. 

The Qatar Chamber has concluded a training program titled 'CSR Project Management Professional', with the participation of trainees from Qatar and several Arab countries. Organised in cooperation with the Regional Consulting Network, a member of the Regional CSR Network, the four-day program focused on enhancing participants' skills in managing CSR projects, drawing on the latest methodologies endorsed by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Held in Arabic for the first time in the Arab region, the program was delivered by Dr Ali Al Ibrahim, a prominent CSR expert, who highlighted global best practices and effective approaches for implementing community projects that generate sustainable impact for organisations and society. For her part, Head of the Training Department at Qatar Chamber, Fatima Al Kuwari, said the program reflects the Chamber's commitment to developing national and Arab human capital and supporting the adoption of international best practices in CSR. She also noted that the specialised programs organised by the Chamber contribute to developing qualified human capital capable of supporting sustainable development and advancing community initiatives in Qatar and across the region.

Qatar’s PMI climbing to 51.9 in August indicates accelerating non-oil private sector activity in the country, according to Oxford Economics.Last month, the PMI climbed to 51.9, which Oxford Economics noted is “fuelled by the fastest job creation and employment growth in the region”.Business activity in the GCC’s non-oil private sector continued to strengthen in August, Oxford Economics said.The UAE’s PMI rose to 53.3 from July’s four-year low of 52.9, driven by faster output growth. Saudi Arabia’s PMI edged up slightly to 56.4, supported by stronger client demand and infrastructure projects.“Overall, the GCC's non-oil private sector has seen sustained expansion this year, and we expect 4% growth in the region's non-oil output this year,” Oxford Economics said.In Saudi Arabia, credit growth slowed to 15.2% y/y in August but remained well above deposit growth of 8.4%. A sharper drop in mortgage lending suggests softer real estate activity, although consumer credit stayed strong.“We expect early interest rate cuts to support credit demand, likely pushing the average loan-to-deposit ratio to a new high. This could raise liquidity concerns in the coming months, especially if deposit growth continues to lag,” Oxford Economics noted.In a recent report the researcher noted Qatar's fiscal balance is estimated to scale up to 5.4% (of country’s GDP) in 2026 from 1.8% this year.A growing fiscal balance signals improved macroeconomic stability and a stronger ability to manage government debt in the country, an analyst noted.In an indication of the country’s level of international competitiveness, Qatar’s current account will improve further reaching 18.3% of the country’s GDP in 2026, from 17.5% this year.Qatar’s real GDP growth has been forecast at 2.7% year-on-year (y-o-y) this year, rising to 4.8% in 2026.Inflation has been forecast at 0.4% this year and 2.8% in 2026.In its last country report, Oxford Economics noted Qatar’s GDP growth “will more than double” in 2026-2027, with both the energy and non-energy sectors contributing positively this year and beyond, according to Oxford Economics.