qatar

Asia appears relatively immune from DubaiÆs debt problems, while Dubai World says less than half the amount of debt initially believed to be affected is included under the standstill agreement.

Barclays shareholders lap up $754 million worth of reserve capital instruments, but the outcome of a forthcoming vote on the investment by Abu Dhabi- and Qatar-based investors is still unclear.

Middle East investors provide the UK bank with more cash, but the high cost of the $11.4 billion capital injection raises questions about whether government funding would have been preferable.

The private banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland gets a license to operate in the Qatar Financial Centre.

Switzerland's Bank Sarasin receives a banking licence for a subsidiary in the Qatar Financial Centre.