Best bank:
Gulf International Bank
Best debt house:
Morgan Stanley
Best equity house:
UBS Warburg
Best M&A house:
Salomon Smith Barney
Best at transaction services:
Citigroup
Best at risk management and treasury:
Citigroup
This year Gulf International Bank reclaims the best bank award from its closest rival, National Bank of Kuwait. Again these two contested closely but GIB takes the award.
| Jagdish Rao | ||||||
One leading analyst covering the region points out: "If you're looking at the dominant regional performer, then GIB comes out ahead of NBK. It is particularly strong in wholesale banking but is improving in other areas as well."
These include investment banking, where it is adding to its product range following its acquisition of Saudi International Bank two years ago. GIB has also been developing its project finance franchise.