Oil: Lower For Longer Redux

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1. Arab/Muslim PR vs the threat from IS
   

   Summary: IS domination of the international media challenged, complications from the disagreement between Gulf states, involvement of lobbyists....

2. Saudi budget: the end of free money
   

   Summary: Saudi budget based on expectation of continued low oil price cuts subsidies – plans for VAT....

3. The Smoke and Mirrors Effect of Lebanese Banks Exiting Syria
   

   The Syrian economy is growing again and banks that stayed through the war are waiting to capitalize on Syria’s peace dividend. Lebanese banks should be the best placed, but some are leaving the market because Washington has upped the ante against Hezbollah’s global financial enterprise....

4. How Assad is embracing change to maintain the status quo
   

   Summary: under pressure from the Saudis Bashar al-Assad has embraced “transition” in order to encourage further investment from the Gulf states and to strengthen the underpinnings of his dictatorship....