VOL. XLI

No. 40

5 October 1998

REGIONAL BANKING

Kuwaiti Banks Face Falling Liquidity And Greater Competition

In general, 1997 was a good year for Kuwaiti banks, with all but oneshowing an increase in profitability. As the level of Government Debt Bonds (GDBs)declined sector wide, the historical gap between first division reasonablysound and profitable banks and a second division where high bad debt levelsthreaten solvency and profits (MEES, 11 August, 1997) was further blurred. Thetotal value of...