Standard and Poor's to host seminars in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on the global outlook for structured finance

The complementary seminars, which will also update investors on the global economic outlook and key credit issues for sovereign and sovereign-related issuers in the Gulf, highlight Standard & Poor's commitment to providing insight and analysis on the latest credit market developments to financial market participants in the Gulf.

Over the first half of this decade, securitisation grew to become a significant funding source for international lending institutions. However, the onset of global financial instability in 2007 caused a widespread investor retreat from the sector. In Standard & Poor's opinion, however, some of the contributing factors to the near-total depletion of investor-placed issuance are gradually beginning to abate, and positive economic indications suggest that—in some sectors at least—the threat of significant further deterioration in credit quality is easing.

Addressing audiences at these seminars will be Ian Bell, head of structured finance ratings EMEA, Jean-Michel Six, chief economist, and Farouk Soussa, head of sovereign ratings Middle East. The briefings will take place on December 7 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, and December 8 at the Rotana Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi.