Sources say Bahrain has raised $500m from a private placement of bonds with five regional banks, reported Arabian Business.

Over the past few weeks, Bahrain has faced difficult financial conditions that prompted the Gulf countries to announce a financial rescue plan to help the small country cope with the crisis that has been pounding it for years.

Consumer spending will dip and price inflation will rise in the immediate aftermath of the introduction of value added taxation (VAT) in Bahrain, according to the head of consultancy Ernst & Young’s VAT advisory services.

Bloomberg economic news agency said that Bahrain and its allies from the Gulf states are making progress in the aid program to help Bahrain reform its financial situation and avoid a devaluation that could trouble neighboring markets.

Local newspaper reported that construction costs in Manama and Muharraq have been rising, quoting people who plan to start new construction projects. Sources pointed their fingers to an agreement amongst contractors to increase prices in the aforementioned areas.

Bahrain Kuwait Insurance is currently considering merging its branches and some supportive services with Takaful International has acquired 77.25% in Takaful International, the chairman of Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Murad Ali Mohamed Murad said.

Bahrain Bourse announced writing off the 10th issuance of government bonds by the Central Bank of Bahrain on behalf of the Government from its lists starting Sunday, August 5, 2018.

Bahrain Family Leisure Company suffered losses in the second quarter of 2018 of about BD 777.1 thousand, versus BD 473.3 profit in the same period in 2017.

Oil prices rose on Monday, despite increase of crude oil drilling platforms in the United States, a news agency reported.

Tamkeen has launched its Internship Scheme to provide interns with opportunity to gain practical experience through a training period with an institution in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Investable wealth in Bahrain is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4 per cent by 2022, said a new report by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The annual report released by the Tender Board said that the total number of opened tenders reached 1091 in 2017, up by 9.2% from the previous year. In response, 5208 bids were submitted, to which 1892 tenders were awarded worth BHD 3.75 billion in total value.

Alba generated a Net Income of BD 29.1 million (US$ 77.4 million) in the second quarter of 2018 versus BD 17.7 million or the same period in 2017 up by 65% Year-over-Year (YoY).

The US Treasury data showed that Bahrain is the least state among GCC states that invests in US Treasury.

Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute data showed that Mumtalakat “Bahrain’s investment arm” invests about $10.6 billion around the world. The institute’s data stated that the sovereign fund in Bahrain occupied the 38th rank among the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

The European Union, Switzerland and the United States have complained at the World Trade Organisation about an excise tax imposed by several Gulf Arab states on carbonated and energy drinks, according to notes of a WTO meeting and diplomatic sources.

Most Middle East stock markets shed value on Tuesday, hit by a drop in oil prices and reflecting a slump in global stocks.

The International Monetary fund (IMF) expected on Sunday (July 15, 2018) that Bahrain’s growth is to decelerate over the medium term due to the large and growing debt bill. IMF said that reserves remain low, covering only 1.5 months of prospective non-oil imports at end 2017.

Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) published a report on the retail price benchmarking study of telecommunications services in Arab countries for 2017.

Official information published by the Information and eGovernment Authority in Bahrain showed a decline in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and economic growth rate in the first quarter of 2018, compared with the first quarter of 2017.