The Big Apple

MAN plans to build lorry factory in Iraq

German truck manufacturer, one of the biggest in the world, announces plans to play its part in the reconstruction of Iraq

Abu Dhabi to buy stake in General Electric

The move will see an $8 billion joint venture set up to provide commercial finance in the Middle East and Africa

Minerva mulls new £258m offer from Limitless

Proposed offer from Dubai property group for City developer boosts share price although investors sceptical of success

Etihad places world's largest aircraft order

Abu Dhabi airline orders from Airbus and Boeing despite fears about the impact of high oil price on aviation industry

Qataris spend £2.2bn buying 10% of Barclays

The Qatar government and Royal family take up to 10% of Britain's third largest bank which is raising £4.5bn

NYSE Euronext beats LSE over Qatari exchange

London Stock Exchange shares fell sharply on suspicions that the Gulf state could be about to sell its 15 per cent stake

Jeddah: city profile

Fears of further oil price rises after Nigeria attacks

Opec oil ministers are divided over the impact of a Saudi pledge to raise output as rebel attacks in Nigeria offset gains

Oil price edges closer to $140 a barrel

Oil prices surged to a record high despite Saudi Arabia's promise to increase its production by 200,000 barrels per day

Energy Minister asks Saudis for oil rethink

As price of oil hits $140 a barrel, with more increases expected, Britain goes in search of some stability from the Gulf

Kuwait eyes US banks as Lehman seeks cash

Kuwait Investment Authority is set to make further US investments to profit from fears that banks are still short of cash

Solar power the Gulf's next big earner

Abu Dhabi plans to invest $2bn in film photovoltaic technology in a project designed to make the Gulf state a world leader

Energy giants smell windfall from sulphur

An ugly waste product of oil refining is transformed into a windfall for energy companies as prices reach record levels

Demand pushing up the price of oil

The need for crude oil in producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and Mexico is helping to push prices to record highs

Call for sovereign wealth funds to go private

Arab delegates at World Economic Forum say greater transparency will reduce criticism by Western governments

Mandelson says EU-Gulf treaty on the horizon

European Trade Commissioner convinced European Union will complete a landmark free-trade Gulf deal by the end of the year

Mandelson says EU closer on Gulf trade pact

EU free trade partnership with Middle East countries just 'two or three sticking points' away from completion

Iraq 'has world's largest oil reserves'

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister claims his country has the largest proven oil reserves, with as much as 350 billion barrels

Oil rebounds as Opec refuses to increase supplies

Cartel members dismiss calls for more oil, sending prices back to last week's peak despite Saudi Arabia raising production

Clothes giant plans Saudi Arabia store

Swedish retailer H&M will open the country's first women-only department store in a bid to bring more women into the workforce