Saudi Arabia opens up to foreign investors. Within the year the Middle Eastern country in fact, it will allow for the first time direct investments in the Tadawul Stock Exchange, which is now worth 340 billion dollars. "The will is there - an official of the Saudi Financial Market Authority (CMA) told the Financial Times - now it's just a question of defining the mechanisms and preparing the right safeguards".
According to some sources, the Riyadh authorities should limit the direct ownership of major institutional investors and set a ceiling on shareholding. In 2008, the CMA authorized foreign investors to buy shares indirectly through local banks or brokers.
