David Bloom (left) and Simon Williams during the Roadshow.
DOHA: The 2019 HSBC Economist Roadshow travelled to Qatar yesterday. Simon Williams HSBC’s Chief Economist for Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA), and David Bloom, HSBC’s Global Head of FX Research, presented to more than 200 of HSBC’s clients and partners at the W-Hotel.
Simon Williams explored the economic prospects for the Middle East, saying, “Qatar has fully adjusted to the region’s geopolitical shocks, and is well placed to deal with oil price weakness. We expect growth to slow, however, and as domestic demand weakens, excesses in the economy will weigh on asset prices and sentiment.” David Bloom discussed the impact of a weaker global economy on major currencies around the world, commenting, “The dollar is still king but we are living in a new world order. The rules are changing and the way we look at markets has to be reformed as well. Trade relationships and politics are now the big drivers of the foreign exchange markets.” Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi, CEO of HSBC in Qatar said: “It is always a highlight to receive our economists in Doha for the Economist Roadshow which has featured on our annual events calendar for more than two decades. David and Simon once again shared thought provoking content that is very valuable in shaping our thoughts about the macro economic outlook. We look forward to their return again next year.” The Economist Roadshow is an annual HSBC event, which sees the HSBC economists travel around the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT), giving an update on their outlook on the global and regional economies.
