Geert Bekaert and Campbell R

	Geert Bekaert and Campbell R. Harvey's
	Chronology of Economic, Political and Financial Events in Emerging Markets
	Jordan
	Major Political and Economic Events
Date
750222	The Effective exchange rate was linked to the SDR.^a
7611	Removal of all restrictions on the export of national banknotes.^a
7702	Residents allowed to open accounts in foreign currency, with a cap on amount.^a
7800	Amman Financial Market opens for business.^eNon-Jordanian Arabs permitted to buy shares in Jordanian firms without limit.^a
7801	Kim and Singal Liberalization date.
790520	Some restrictions on foreign exchange controls eased. Increased ceiling on residents' foreign currency accounts. Overseas remittances can be made up to a limit.^a
790829	Central bank announced that commercial banks would be allowed to deal in forward foreign exchange contracts.^a
800407	Ceiling on residents foreign accounts raised.^a
8100	Central bank ordered all commercial banks and investment companies to invest at least 3% of total assets in government treasury bills and another 3.5% in government or corporate bonds. New investment incentives also proposed.^a
8401	Decree limiting foreign participation in banking to 49% was rescinded.^a
8600	Widened margin of Jordanian Dinar fluctuation against the Special Drawing Rights as a first step towards a complete flotation of the Jordanian Dinar.^j
8600	Contained speculation on the Jordanian Dinar by restricting transfer of foreign exchange to a limited number of activities.^j
8600	Encouragement of Investment Law of 1986 raises limit on foreign ownership from 49% to 99% for tourism, agricultural, or related services industries.^e
8712	Bekaert/Harvey Official Liberalization date. [NBER version].
8800	50% Devaluation of the Jordanian Dinar.^j Interest rate was liberalized. Mehrez and Kaufmann Liberalization date. ^a1
880606	Commercial banks were prohibited from extending loans in dinars against foreign currency deposits and required to settle outstanding balances in three months.^{a3(first entry)}
8812	IFC Liberalization date.ⁱ
8900	Central bank injects $500 million (10% of GDP) into banking system to meet the run on insolvent banks and to settle foreign deposits.^m
9101	Onset of Gulf War.
910723	A reserve ratio of 15% was imposed on offshore banks belonging to Jordanian banks and financial companies.^a3
9200	85% of market participants are Jordanian.^m
9300	Lifted controls on outbound and inbound direct investments, allowed private holding of foreign exchange and other financial assets, provided market access to foreign financial institutions on a non-discriminatory basis.^j Amman Financial Market turnover rose to $1,400 from $400 million in 1991. Boom fueled by expatriate money and expectations of a peace era expansion.ⁿThirteen new public shareholding companies with combined capital of $128 million sprung up while 26 existing companies boosted capital to $199 million. ^k
9308	King dissolves National assembly in anticipation of elections for Parliament.
9309	Political parties are legalized. The law allows for elections in 1993.
9311	Parliament elections took place for the first time in 40 years.
9312	Bank debt restructuring agreement.ⁱ
9400	Government allows issuance of non-Dinar denominated shares. ^kNew law imposes tough penalties on insider trading. ^k Free access to international financial markets remains restricted by administrative and foreign exchange regulations of the Central Bank.^j
9400	Government considering law to eliminate written approval necessary for foreigners to invest in equities.
9401	Jordan and PLO signed an economic agreement. Agreement stressed economic cooperation in infrastructure, promotion of investments, and private sector cooperation.
9410	Peace treaty signed with Israel.
950831	Commercial banks were permitted to invest abroad up to 50% of their foreign currency holdings.^a3
9512	Foreign investment bylaws passed allowing foreign investors to purchase shares without government approval.^t
9512	Bekaert/Harvey Official Liberalization date. [Final version].
9612	Parliament separates the Amman Financial Market's operational and supervisory standards.^l
9500	Foreign ownership represents between 15 to 20% of the total equities of quoted companies.^j
9600	80% of investors are Jordanian, Foreign capital inflows of $25 million.^j
9607	Israel elects Prime Minister Netanyahu.
9611	Iraq agrees to all UN conditions.
9701	First bank merger in the country's history, between Jordan National Bank and Business Bank.
9702	A 15% reduction of a tax on certain capital increases.
9703	King Hussein dismissed Prime Minister Abdul-Karim al-Kabariti. Former premier Abdul-Salam al-Majari replaced his post.
970701	(Controls on direct investment) Restrictions on foreign nationals on holding majority stakes in most companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange were lifted.
970716	Restrictions on capital account transactions were liberalized.^a3
9708	Rising tension between Israel and Palestine.
9709	The 50% ceiling on foreign stock ownership, with the exception of mining and construction, were waived.
9711	Jordan signed an association agreement with European Union representatives that aims to establish a free trade zone over the course of the next 12 years.
9712	Iraq agreed to supply Jordan with 4.8 million tons of crude oil at a considerable discount from market price.
9801	The murder of senior Iraqi diplomat Hekmat Al Heji in Amman.
9802	An agreement on weapons inspections between the U.N. and Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was reached. King Hussen remarked publicly that Jordan would not support any attack on Iraq.
9806	Impasse in Middle East peace talks.
9808	Jordan swore in new Prime Minister Fayez al-Tarwnah and appointed a new government late in the month.
9811	Concern for King Hussein’s health continued to cast a shadow over the Amman Financial Market.
9902	King Hussein passed away on February 7.
9903	A new board for Amman Financial Market was elected.

9900	Arab Bank reported a decent 1998 profit performance. But positive signs , such as reorganization of more than $800 million in Paris Club debt, and IMF approval of a $220 million loan package, failed to boost activity.
9908	Cairo Amman Bank and Jordan Electric Power Company was sold by the Jordan Investment Corporation.
9909	The local ASE (the Amman Stock Exchange) index fell below the 160 level for the first time since 1997. The government sold stakes in the Housing Bank, Jordan Worsted Mills, and the Jordan Ceramic Industries to the Social Security Corporation
200001	Jordan and Israel renewed their bilateral trade agreement. Jordan's state-owned telecommunications company (JTC) was privatized with a 40% stake sold to France Telecom SA and its Arab minority partner. But the shares were not listed on the local exchange.
200003	The Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) introduced electronic trading.
200006	The ASE began implementing new directives that introduced internationally recognized market divisions and listing criteria. A government, with a large contingent representing the private business sector, was formed in Lebanon. GDP grew 3%, showing that Jordan had emerged from a decade-long recession, but the stock market continued its 18-month decline.
200008	The ASE issued internal by-laws for dispute settlement. A Brokers' Guarantee Fund (BGF) was set up to cover broker defaults arising from trading on margin and was expected to contribute to securing sound settlement of executed trades on the ASE and provide assurance to dealers of timely settlements according to international standards as well as safe entry and exit from the market.
200010	The ASE introduced remote access trading. Jordan signed a Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., paving the way for additional foreign investments and exempting exports from high customs duty.
200011	The Jordan Securities Commission hosted more than 70 countries at the International Emerging Markets Committee meeting in Amman.
200104	S&P revised the outlook on Jordan's long-term foreign currency rating to positive from stable.
200105	The Amman Stock Exchange's performance was the strongest in the Middle East. S&P reaffirmed the ratings outlook.
200100	In the third quarter, Jordan and Germany signed a debt swap worth US$11.5 million, at a 50% discount. Jordan and Iraq announced plans to build a pipeline to carry crude oil to a refinery at Zarqa. They also signed an oil protocol whereby Iraq will provide a total of 5.5 million crude oil and derivatives to Jordan.
200112	Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Halayqeh announced a US$423 million government plan to improve government services, develop local infrastructure, and execute new development projects to be launched in 2002.
20020100	Riots erupt in the southern town of Maan, the worst public disturbances in more than three years, following the death of a youth in custody.
20020800	Spat with Qatar over a programme on Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV which Jordan says insulted its royal family. Jordan shuts down Al-Jazeera's office in Amman and recalls its ambassador in Qatar.
20020900	Jordan and Israel agree on a plan to pipe water from the Red Sea to the shrinking Dead Sea. The project, costing $800m, is the two nations' biggest joint venture to date.
20021000	Senior US diplomat Laurence Foley is gunned down outside his home in Amman, in the first assassination of a Western diplomat in Jordan. Scores of political activists are rounded up.
20021124	The Central Bank cut its benchmark discount rate by 50 basis points. The discount rate now stands at 4.5%.^b1
20030100	The World Bank has endorsed a US$305m lending package to help support poverty reduction projects and to combat rising unemployment in the kingdom.
20030400	Italy has officially written off US$40.7m of external debt owed by Jordan under the aegis of a debt-swap agreement signed between the two countries in June 2000.^b1
20030601	An increase in sales taxation from 2% to 4% is introduced on 91 basic goods and commodities, as part of efforts to plug any further widening of fiscal deficits beyond IMF-prescribed targets.^b1
20030600	First parliamentary elections under King Abdullah II. Independent candidates loyal to the king win two-thirds of the seats.
20030600	Agreement has been reached between Israel and Jordan for the establishment of two new Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ), in addition to an agreement to expand an existing joint industrial complex.
20030621	Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb yesterday appointed a new government, bringing in eight new faces but leaving key portfolios - including Finance, Planning and Foreign Affairs - unchanged.^b1
20030800	Bomb attack on Jordan's embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad kills 11 people, injures more than 50.
20030900	Jordan's Central Bank retracts its decision to freeze accounts belonging to leaders of Hamas.
20031000	A new cabinet is appointed following the resignation of Prime Minister Ali Abu al-Ragheb. Faisal al-Fayez is appointed prime minister. The king also appoints the three female ministers.
20031100	King Abdullah II has dissolved the 55-member upper house and appointed a new senate.
20031200	Parliament has approved the cabinet's policy plans aimed at fighting poverty and addressing worsening economic conditions.
20040200	Jordan's King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launch the Wahdah Dam project at a ceremony on the River Yarmuk.
20040300	Israel and Jordan agree a joint project to build a desert science centre on their shared border.
20040400	Eight Islamic militants are sentenced to death for killing a US government official in 2002.
20040400	Government unveils plans for Jordanian political reform.
20040500	The Jordanian government and the European Union (EU) have solidified their financial and political ties through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which will see the transfer of 110m euro (US$132.4) to Jordan over a two-year period.
20040600	Following government approval, Jordan is set to carry out the necessary steps to join the 1984 Patent Co-Operation Treaty (PCT) and the 1989 Madrid Protocol on the international registration of marks.

Year	Regulations on Foreign Investors
1998	Restrictions: Foreign investors need approval from the prime minister for their interest securities. They are not allowed to own more than 49% of the outstanding share capital of a company, except tourism companies, in which 99% of the share capital may be in foreign hands. The repatriation of investment income is free of restrictions. The AFM can impose a 5% limit on price movement. Taxation: None.^a6
1999	Restrictions: Foreigners may own any project except in construction contracting sector, commercial and commercial service sector and mining sector, where foreign participation may not exceed 50%. The investment by a non-Jordanian may not be less than JOD 50,000 except for participation in public shareholding companies. Taxation: 10% dividend tax payable to all investors. No capital-gains tax.^a7
2000	Restrictions: 1. Foreign investors are limited to 60 percent ownership in publishing and in aircraft maintenance and repair services.^b7 Taxation: No change.
2001	Restrictions: 1. No more than 50% subscription in shares in the following major sectors: commerce and trade services, construction, contracting, and transportation. 2. Investments in the following sectors are not permitted for nonresidents: investigation and security, quarrying and mining, waste removal, sport clubs, and transportation of goods and passengers. 3. Non-residents are allowed to open bank accounts in foreign currencies. Taxation: 35% capital gains tax on depreciable assets, 0% on shares. VAT tax rate is 13% effective January 1^st, 2001 ^{b1, b7}