Gulf Archive
Islamic Finance
I was at two recent conferences, OIC Member States’ Stock Exchange Forum 5th Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, and SWIFT’s SIBOS massive event in Toronto, and, folks, we have
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Macroeconomic Data
With the ongoing rebound in economic activity, a question that emerges is whether inflation will increase again as it did in 2007–08 when the annual increase in consumer
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Bahrain
TweetThe MENA region has a shortage of 3.5 million affordable dwellings, with Egypt, Iraq, Morocco and Saudi Arabia suffering from the biggest shortfalls. For all the boom (and
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UAE
TweetEmirates airline will surpass the likes of Air France/KLM, Lufthansa/Swiss, British Airways and other major airlines. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) projects that passenger flow in the Middle East
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Bahrain
Could the Arab Spring have been predicted? More significant, could we have predicted that Saudi Arabia will remain stable throughout the turmoil? Or even where Bin Laden was
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Macroeconomic Data
Robust and timely support from the Gulf central banks have made the region's key financial institutions secure and safe powerhouses
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Bahrain
TweetIn many ways, Bahrain is the odd one out in the GCC bloc. The smallest state in the Gulf with the smallest economy and geographic area, Bahrain is
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Bahrain
Gulf states have pledged $150-billion in response to the regional unrest, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates. But it may not be enough
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UAE
TweetDubai is the ninth worst real estate market in the world, according to a survey of 50 cities. But that is an improvement. READ MORE HERE
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Bahrain
Lebanon's Riad Salameh is ranked as one of the world's best central bankers. But which Mideast bank governor fares worse than Ben Bernanke and Jean-Claude Trichet? Surprising answer
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Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is not immune to the debt crisis in the European Union
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Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Ministry of Labour's recent efforts to tackle Saudi's highunemployment rate which has hit half a million poses a major threat to alarge number of Saudi organizations,
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Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's housing sector is only just warming up but the profits of listed Saudi companies show the sector's immense potential. If only the authorities would pass the
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Saudi Arabia
Twenty facts about the Kingdom Tower that you may or may not have known
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Featured Saudi Arabia
TweetIt was an unlikely public display of affection. Close to 2,000 Syrian expatriates gathered on the streets of Jeddah, carrying Saudi flags and pictures of the Saudi King
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Egypt
As the global economy lurches from one crisis to the next, we look at the prospects for the regional economies in troubling global conditions which could slash domestic
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Bahrain
Realign the regional economies to the new realities
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Egypt
Give the public what they want
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Featured UAE
TweetDubai’s bold bid to host the 2024 Olympics is just the tonic for the emirate to regain its mojo, although the emirate’s huge debt pile could come in
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Kuwait
TweetOil-dependent Kuwait may find a new revenue stream to support its rising spending needs if VAT is implemented by the authorities in 2013, according to the IMF. READ
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Bahrain
TweetGulf markets have lagged other global emerging and developed markets for years. Even as the S&P 500 and other emerging market indices rescaled their pre-Lehman levels, Gulf markets
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Egypt
The Fraser Institute's Global Petroleum Survey is the latest where super-rich Qatar beats its regional competitors' as it pips them to the post as the Middle East's most
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Iraq
TweetOpec’s annual bulletin reveals the changing dynamics of the energy industry and the key challenges facing both the producers and the consumers. Click through the charts to find
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Featured Saudi Arabia
Forget Arab Spring. If Saudi Arabia's spending patterns and economic policies don't change, it could be staring at a breakeven oil price of an astonishing $320 a barrel
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Bahrain
Like the rest of the economy, Bahrain real estate sector has suffered on account of the country's political and social unrest
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Saudi Arabia
After riding on the crest of high oil prices earlier in the years, Saudi economy appears to be cooling off during the hot summer months. The initial euphoria
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Bahrain
Gulf states saw their default risks subside considerably during the second quarter as investors shrugged off the Arab Spring and focused on the troubled EU states
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Saudi Arabia
The list of the largest financial institutions in MENA based on The Banker data reveal a tough year for regional banks and how they still lag in many
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Bahrain
TweetThe Arab World’s tryst with democracy and freedom is unlikely to bear economic fruits, according to a study. Instead, we could well see a gridlock political environment and
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Egypt
Even as the Egyptian Government looks to revive the country's economy, it has turned down the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s stand-by agreement
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Egypt
Tweet HSBC’s forecast for the region’s three largest economies reveals its continued concerns for Saudi Arabia and Egypt, while it believes UAE’s status as a safe haven is
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Egypt
As investors say goodbye to the first half of the year and brace themselves for a strange and uncertain world in the second half, the worry beads are
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Qatar
TweetMSCI has kept the door ajar for both Qatar and the UAE, but EFG-Hermes and Citibank analysts disagree whether either market will be elevated come December. Meanwhile, emerging
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetEven if Saudi Arabia was aware of the IEA’s move to draw from its oil reserves, all parties appear to have lost face, without really upsetting the trend
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UAE
Dubai is no longer the worst housing market in the world - in fact real estate prices rose 2.1% over the past six months, according to Knight Frank.
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Africa
TweetSpring is nearly six months old. It is time to take stock, remember those who lost their lives and continue to fight, and hand out some well-deserved awards
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UAE
TweetThe Dubai bond prospectus has revealed some new information about the emirate’s economy and confirmed others. Here is a look at some of the most interesting aspects of
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Bahrain
With Opec seemingly irrelevant, the GCC is trying to find a balance between responsible crude suppliers and their own domestic needs
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UAE
TweetNext year will be a crucial one for Dubai Inc. as a significant amount of debt matures in the year. Analysts expect the emirate to service these maturities,
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Qatar
While the Arab Spring has unleashed havoc on the region's economy, one country that has escaped the regional turmoil is Qatar
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Saudi Arabia
Saudization has been given a new lease of life. Worried about domestic unrest and the political fallout of unemployed Saudis, the Kingdom has recently made a concerted push
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Saudi Arabia
International and regional investors discouraged by asset mispricing and lack of investment grade properties
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Bahrain
TweetThe potential inclusion of Morocco and Jordan in the GCC fold should be taken for what it is – a political move by the Gulf states to widen
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Bahrain
TweetQatar, which has been beating its regional rival on economic performance, has also won the title of the most peaceful country in the Middle East North Africa region.
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetDubai’s debt problems refuse to go away, as the IMF warns that the emirate’s debt will rise to 53% of GDP by 2016 if it does not act.
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UAE
TweetThe UAE economy started to recover in 2010, though more modestly than in neighboring GCC countries. Benefiting from higher oil prices and strong demand from traditional trading partners
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UAE
Tweet The global financial crisis brought an end to a decade of high growth. The U.A.E. has had remarkable achievements over the last decade with its open and
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Oil
TweetOpec is the latest battleground in Iran and Saudi Arabia’s cold war. News that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may attend the next Opec meeting, has the potential of
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Africa
TweetClose to $1.6-trillion worth of projects are cancelled or are on hold in the Middle East and East North African market, with $800-billion in the UAE alone, according
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Africa
TweetJordan and Morocco’s possible inclusion in the Gulf is a political move rather than an economic one, but there might be other - unlikely - candidates in the
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Saudi Arabia
TweetThe Saudi Press Agency says the King has approved designs for 15,000 houses: May 9, 2011- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
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Saudi Arabia
TweetWhile the new housing decrees are set to boost Saudi real estate sector, the on-the-ground reality is that the country’s housing authorities do not have the capacity to
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Bahrain
TweetBy Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Head, Islamic Finance & OIC Countries Thomson Reuters It’s polling time once again in Islamic finance, but, today, we survey two major developments: Arab
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Oil
TweetOil fell nearly $10 in a day, bringing out oil bears with their charts to show how crude will remain weak. But is oil merely catching its breath
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UAE
Tweet By Activist Shareholder It is great to see Emaar’ supremo Mohamed Alabbar looking for a challenge. Dubai and certainly the emirate’s real estate sector needs dynamic personalities
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetPrivate equity (PE) activity in the MENA region remained slow for the second consecutive month, in April, according to Al Masah Capital research. “The first month of 2Q
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Bahrain
TweetThe Arab World’s foreign assets will rise to a stunning $2.2-trillion this year, says the IIF. But the key to growth in the region will not be financial
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Bahrain
TweetWith Japan shaken by the quake and China looking at hard landing, the Gulf’s two largest partners are going through a tumultuous period, which could impact their trade
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Kuwait
TweetA report that Abu Dhabi could be a cornerstone investor in Glencore has sent many Googling for the company to find out more. Here is what you need
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Saudi Arabia
TweetThe recent skirmish between Saudi cement buyers and sellers over price suggest that even before the new real estate projects come on line, cement prices are rising. Can
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Saudi Arabia
TweetSaudi listed companies have not seen much of the benefits of the King’s spending spree yet, but have already seen their bottom-lines suffer on bonus payouts in a
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetDubai’s economy seems to be gaining momentum once again. But is it a temporary bump due to unrest in other parts of the Middle East or is the
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Kuwait
TweetDonald Trump’s recent hysterical comments on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are set to put more pressure on President Obama. Expect
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Kuwait
TweetKuwait’s oil-dependent economy needs the $104-bn Kuwait Development Plan to shake off its lethargy. But the plan may become another victim of the country’s political stalemate. READ MORE
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Bahrain
TweetRatings agencies have an uncanny knack of turning up at morgues and pronouncing the death of the deceased, so it should have been no surprise that Standard &
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetThere is no doubt that Saudi Arabia has extended itself with its latest domestic spending programme. So much so that sustained dips in oil price could turn its
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Bahrain
TweetMost Gulf states offer some of the lowest tax rates to Forbes 2000 companies. But is there a link between the trouble in other Middle East states and
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetRatings agencies have an uncanny knack of turning up at morgues and pronouncing the death of the deceased, so it should have been no surprise that Standard &
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Egypt
TweetThe region loses $40-50-billion in economic loss due to youth unemployment, notes a McKinsey report. The problem will only get worse due to huge mismatch between the skills
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetGoldmans Sachs one of the most accurate forecasters of oil prices, expects a correction soon. On the flip side, Morgan Stanley says high oil prices means $1-trillion of
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Saudi Arabia
TweetWithout a robust and diversified power strategy, much of Saudi Arabia’s economic ambitions will fall by the wayside. Here is a look at the country’s key power and
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetStandard Chartered expects a boom in the Kingdom, although only about 40% of the $128-billion stimulus package will make its way into this economy this year. Read More
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetAs safe haven-seeking investors cast their eyes over the political storm in the region, Abu Dhabi appears to be a safe harbour. Read More Here
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetBy Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Head, Islamic Finance & OIC Countries, Thomson Reuters The investing and financing world is about country linkages that are economic and financial opportunities clustered
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Egypt
TweetOil prices will rise 36% in 2011, denting global economic recovery, warns the IMF. But that also means Saudi’s GDP will rise 7.5% - one of the highest
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Egypt
TweetEgypt will surpass Saudi Arabia as the region’s largest economy by 2050 and emerge as the 19th largest economy in the world, according to an HSBC report. Read
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Bahrain
TweetSaudi Arabia is no longer in the list of the ten safest sovereign debtors in the world, meanwhile Lebanon, Iraq, Dubai and Egypt all find themselves in the
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Egypt
TweetReading McKinsey’s Urban World: Mapping The Power Of Cities convinces us that the world will belong to China by 2025 - we will just be living in it.
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Bahrain
Tweet Saudi Arabia needs oil prices to remain at $83 to $ 88 a barrel to breakeven - almost double of what it was three years ago. Rising
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Bahrain
TweetWhat were the MENA region’s best performing stocks in the first quarter - more importantly, which were the worst that burnt investors, including one that fell 99.02% in
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Saudi Arabia
TweetEverything you ever wanted to know about Saudi demographics, but were afraid to ask. Read More Here
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Saudi Arabia
TweetEveryone knows there is a housing shortage in Saudi Arabia, and the lack of a clear mortgage law is hindering growth, but what are the other dynamics impacting
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Oil
TweetHSBC’s energy outlook for 2050 forecasts that we may have as little as 49 years of oil left and we will have to radically alter our energy consuming
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Oil
TweetHere is the leaked Wikileak cable that shows a former Aramco executive saying Saudi Arabia has over-estimated its oil reserves.
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UAE
TweetDubai tops the list of the world’s worst housing market in the past six months, but is a turnaround imminent? Dubai has been the world’s weakest housing market
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetQatar’s investment over the next five years will be a staggering $225 billion, but the country is still worried about low energy prices during the period. As a
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Bahrain
TweetSaudi Arabia’s gold reserves dwarf Libya’s hordings. Here is a selected list of countries with the biggest gold reserves, including almost every Middle East nation.
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Qatar
TweetChevron is the world’s fastest growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer, beating Qatar Petroleum, according to Evaluate Energy data. Between 2010 and 2020, the U.S. energy giant will
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Bahrain
TweetThe emirate’s economy may benefit as international visitors choose hotels in Dubai over other troubled regional tourist destinations, notes Citibank. But Egypt and Bahrain will suffer from poor
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Oil
TweetEvery analyst has their spreadsheet out and there are plenty of predictions out there as far as oil prices are concerned. But will we see crude scaling the
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetWhile oil inflation fears in emerging markets are warranted, these risks are being mitigated as Gulf oil-exporting states buy emerging market products and services as part of their
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetThe Japan earthquake, Middle East unrest and the euro crisis: You ain’t seen nothing yet. Here are eight more global shocks already under way or on the horizon.
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Bahrain
TweetThe GCC has around $40bn of debt coming due each year over the next five years, says Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). Plus a chart that neatly shows SCB’s
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Bahrain
TweetDubai retains its position as the regional financial centre, but Doha is fast catching up as an alternative centre, according to the latest survey of global financial service
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Libya
TweetMark Mobius’ Franklin Templeton can see clear opportunities in the haze of Middle East turmoil. Read More
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Bahrain
TweetThe Middle East crisis will see capital flowing out of the region, especially the vulnerable financial hub of Bahrain, according to a poll.
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetHere are the 21 orders announced by the Saudi authorities on March 18, 2011:
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Macroeconomic Data
TweetThe Saudi King’s speech had 21 royal orders but very little to comfort reformists. It appears that the authorities have used its biggest political crisis to launch an
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Bahrain
TweetAs Japan’s nuclear meltdown puts the brakes on yet another power source, the world is looking at ME energy to fill the gap. Luckily, there is plenty coming
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Bahrain
TweetRead why EFG-Hermes is worried about Omani and Bahraini growth. And the bank’s insightful regional heat map that neatly highlights problem areas. Read the full story here
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