Qatar looms large for top banks

We've noted that more top banks are investing in the Middle East. For some banks, tiny Qatar looms as a logical destination. The country recently gave Citigroup a license to open a corporate bank branch in April. Barclays, which has offices in Doha, got the official okay in September. Jefferies & Co. is also looking to do more business in the country, though it does not intend to open an office there. Some see the country as a low-key entry point to the gas-rich countries in Gulf Cooperation Council. The moves also reflect some actions by the government to attract more capital expertise. The Qatari finance ministry hopes to bring the main regulatory body, the Qatar Central Bank and the Doha Stock Exchange under a single agency soon.

For more:
- here's the article in Investment Dealers' Digest (For FierceFinance readers)