Business and Finance

Video: Samir Shah, Chief Business Officer, Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange talks to Phil Blizzard on the operation of the first exchange in the Middle East for the trading of Copper Futures, which went live in April 2012.

Global markets digest the less than spectacular payrolls data from the US on Friday and the Euro weakens in the lead up to the French and Greek elections. We look at what this means for EURUSD and also for WTI oil.

The week ahead will be dominated by European debt problems and US growth indicators, with an upswing in bullish sentiment on the US stock markets. All eyes are also going to be on long-term Gold prices over the next couple of weeks to see how markets react.

The markets were fairly directionless but ended the week on a high. This week we have a lot of event risk coming up including central bank meetings and some key European economic data releases. Watch our update on what this could mean for FX and the gold price going forward as it approaches key price resistance levels.

Video: Stronger economic data out of the USA boosting confidence, with markets enjoying a strong quarter, despite turmoil in Europe is the overlying theme of this review. Gary Dugan, CIO, Private Banking, Emirates NBD talks us through the Q1 performance for markets around the globe, starting with the West through to the Middle East and across to Asia, as well as the BRIC countries. He also tells Phil Blizzard that there is potential for investors with small funds to spare, and that gold should play a bigger role in one's portfolio.

Watch the weekly update to find out why we are tracking global central bankers so closely and what this means for the markets.

The dollar may continue to weaken as we start a new week, which could weigh heavily on USDJPY. But Euro gains may be capped if the ECB doesn't suggest any more market support when it meets next week. Gold is also expected to hold steady while waiting on dollar movements later in the week.

Watch our Week Ahead, as Eurozone fears start to bite once more and the markets look to China to try and stimulate growth.

There is little economic data to distract the markets this week hence we will be looking at US Treasury yields and that important 1.30 level in EURUSD for market direction as we start a new week.

The Public Relations World Congress has opened in Dubai attracting PR professionals from across the world. Phil Blizzard talks to Faisal Al- Zahrani, President, International Public Relations Association, Gulf Chapter, organisers of the 20th edition of the congress, about the role they play in the region.

The good, the bad and the ugly economies of the world are highlighted by Mario Maratheftis, Regional Head of Research, Mena & Pakistan - Global Markets, Standard Chartered. Talking to Phil Blizzard he explains the impact they may have on the economic development of Dubai and the expected outlook for 2012.

Mario Maratheftis, Regional Head of Research, Mena & Pakistan - Global Markets, Standard Chartered talks to Phil Blizzard at the Dubai Economic Outlook 2012 conference and in this part of an extended interview the focus is on the internal factors expected to influence the development of Dubai.

The Top 100 performing businesses in the SME sector were revealed in a special ceremony at the Dubai World Trade Centre. In this report Phil Blizzard talks to Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO, Dubai SME, - Michael Lahyani, CEO & Founder of the third place performer Property Finder and also Dr Omar Ghosheh, CEO of top performer Dimensions Healthcare.

The construction of the first rail project in Qatar has begun with the Lusail Light Rail Network. Thomas Topolski, VP, Transportation ME, Aecom talks to Phil Blizzard at the MEED Qatar Projects 2012 conference about this joint venture with Parsons International, and also about Aecom's projects elsewhere in the Middle East.

The Qatar 2030 plan looks at developing the SME sector as a key part of their diversification. Talking to Phil Blizzard at the Qatar Projects 2012 conference Remy Rowhani, DG, Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry highlights the importance of the SME sector, services offered by his organisation and the forthcoming World Chambers Congress which takes place in Doha next year.