FEAS Yearbook FEAS Yearbook 2011 | Page 35

FEDERATION OF EURO-ASIAN STOCK EXCHANGES ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2011 BAHRAIN BOURSE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS Political Outlook A general election for the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house of parliament) was held in October. After two rounds of voting, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, a largely Shia-supported political society, emerged as the largest group in parliament, although it fell short of a majority, winning 18 of 40 seats. Pro-government independents won 17 seats. Two Sunni-based Islamist parties, the al-Menbar National Islamic Society (which is associated with the Muslim Brotherhood) and the al-Asalah Islamic Society (a salafi, or puritanical Islamist, group), won five seats between them, less than half the number they had in the previous parliament. The Waad society, a liberal and cross-sectarian group, failed to win any seats. Source: Bahrain: Country outlook Information obtained from the Exchange. BAHRAIN ECONOMIC CHARTS AND TABLES Key Indicators Real GDP Growth (%) Consumer Price Inflation (av;%) Budget Balance (% of GDP) Current-Account Balance (% of GDP) Exchange Rate US$:Euro (av) Exchange Rate US$:Euro(year-end) 2010 -6.50 2.50 0.30 2.40 0.38 0.38 2011 -.50 2.40 1.00 -.60 0.38 0.38 2012 -.30 3.30 -.10 2.20 0.38 0.38 Source: Country Forecast Bahrain August 2010 Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 GDP in Billions of USD PPP 22.42 25.01 27.17 28.27 29.68 % GDP Growth -1.30 0.16 -0.15 3.10 -6.50 Source: EIU Country Data Risk Sovereign risk Currency risk Banking sector risk Political risk Economic structure risk December 2010 BBB BBB BB BB BB Source: Bahrain: Country risk summary Key Information Contacts Central Bank of Bahrain http://www.cbb.gov.bh/cmsrule/bmaindex.jsp Ministry of Finance http://www.mofne.gov.bh/English/eindex.asp Bahrain Government http://www.bahrain.gov.bh Economic Development Board http://www.bahrainedb.com PAGE 33