MANAMA, 26 November 2007 — The more transparency and availability of real time info will lure more investments to the GCC capital markets. The steps toward sophistication of GCC markets will help the global investors who are paying more attention to this region, a senior official at S&P said. Robert A. Shakotko, managing director, S&P Indices Services and Alka Banerjee, vice-president, Global Equities at S&P, in a panel interview said that the development of the GCC stock markets need more sophisticated tools and mechanism especially in the background of shift in focus of the investors.
Robert said: “In the backdrop of excess liquidity and regulators resolve to broaden the base of the capital markets by introducing more sophisticated tools are seen as a major step forward by a global rating player like S&P. The GCC capital markets have a huge growth potential as the global rating agencies like Standard & Poor’s with 12,000 indices and clientele in over 80 countries is keen to enhance its market share in the region by offering innovative products and services.”