Oil Prices and Stock Market Returns in Oil Exporting Countries: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

This study aims at investigating the reaction of Saudi Arabia stock market towards oil price fluctuations a sectoral level in particular. The study covered 4 years from (2012-2015). This time series witnessed historical high and low oil prices. The results of the study added a new evidence for the asymmetric reaction of stock markets towards oil prices that was reported by previous studies. The study used Granger causality and regression tests to explore the dynamics of sectoral responses. Saudi Arabia stock market proved that they faced the current oil drops bravely although certain sectors need to unbind or reduce their relation with oil markets to reduce the consequences of low oil prices on them. Several avenues for future studies are opened to investigate all GCC stock markets and use other methodologies to better understand the dynamics of GCC market sectors towards oil prices fluctuations. Keywords: Saudi Arabia stock market; oil prices; granger causality.      JEL Classifications: E44, Q2

The regulatory technology “RegTech” and money laundering prevention in Islamic and conventional banking industry

© 2020 The Authors This study aims to illustrate the impact of adopting Regulatory technology (RegTech) innovations in banks on money laundering prevention effectiveness using Bahrain as a case study. Bahrain has strived to position itself as the banking center of the Arabian Gulf, hence the results of this novel research are informative of the practices in the region. The primary data for this study was collected through a survey instrument distributed to 100 bankers working in Bahrain with expertise in compliance. The results of multivariate analysis indicate that transactions monitoring through RegTech and cost- and time-saving aspects of RegTech, drive money laundering prevention effectiveness to a highly statistically significant extent. However, electronic know your customer (KYC) technologies are insignificant as drivers. This research not only sheds light on the efficacy of RegTech but also raises general awareness concerning the adoption and integration of RegTech platforms for fighting money laundering. In particular, the findings provide specific insights about the deployment of RegTech capabilities in banks in regional banking centers of modest scale

Complete chloroplast genome sequence of historical olive (Olea europaea subsp. europaea) cultivar Mehras, in Jordan

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Olea europaea subsp. europaea cultivar Mehras was determined using high-throughput sequencing technology. Chloroplast genome was 155,897 bp in length, containing a pair of 25,742 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions, which were separated by large and small single-copy regions (LSC and SSC) of 86,622 and 17,791 bp, respectively. The chloroplast genome contained 130 genes (85 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and eight rRNA). GC content was 37.8%. We performed phylogenetic analysis with other isolates. The analysis showed that O. e. subsp. europaea cultivar Mehras has an ancient common ancestor with cultivated olives in Italy, Spain, and Cyprus

Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm: A Comparative Study on Post-Vaccination Antibody Titers

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines induce immunity through different mechanisms. The aim of this study is to compare the titers of specific antibodies in subjects vaccinated with either the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or the Sinopharm vaccine. This prospective observational cohort included Jordanian adults vaccinated with two doses, 21 days apart, of either of the two aforementioned vaccines. Titers were collected 6 weeks after the administration of the second dose. Overall, 288 participants were included, of which 141 were administered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, while 147 were administered the Sinopharm vaccine. Remarkably, 140 (99.3%) of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients had positive IgG titers, while 126 (85.7%) of Sinopharm recipients had positive IgG (p p p = 0.002), compared with a negative effect of cardiovascular diseases (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.11–0.99; p = 0.48) on IgG titers. In conclusion, fully vaccinated recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had superior quantitative efficiency compared to Sinopharm recipients. A booster dose is supported for Sinopharm recipients, or those with chronic immunosuppressive diseases

Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm: A Comparative Study on Post-Vaccination Antibody Titers

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines induce immunity through different mechanisms. The aim of this study is to compare the titers of specific antibodies in subjects vaccinated with either the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or the Sinopharm vaccine. This prospective observational cohort included Jordanian adults vaccinated with two doses, 21 days apart, of either of the two aforementioned vaccines. Titers were collected 6 weeks after the administration of the second dose. Overall, 288 participants were included, of which 141 were administered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, while 147 were administered the Sinopharm vaccine. Remarkably, 140 (99.3%) of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients had positive IgG titers, while 126 (85.7%) of Sinopharm recipients had positive IgG (p < 0.001). The mean titer for IgG among Pfizer-BioNTech recipients was 515.5 ± 1143.5 BAU/mL, compared to 170.0 ± 230.0 BAU/mL among Sinopharm subjects (p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine positively correlated with positive IgG titers (OR: 25.25; 95% CI: 3.25–196.15; p = 0.002), compared with a negative effect of cardiovascular diseases (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.11–0.99; p = 0.48) on IgG titers. In conclusion, fully vaccinated recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had superior quantitative efficiency compared to Sinopharm recipients. A booster dose is supported for Sinopharm recipients, or those with chronic immunosuppressive diseases