Gulf Countries to Complete Railway Project

GCC Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi speaks at the Middle East Rail Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi. (GCC)
GCC Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi speaks at the Middle East Rail Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi. (GCC)
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Gulf Countries to Complete Railway Project

GCC Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi speaks at the Middle East Rail Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi. (GCC)
GCC Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi speaks at the Middle East Rail Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi. (GCC)

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the GCC Secretariat General, and the GCC Rail Authority are continuing to finalize the completion stages of the railway linking the GCC countries, announced GCC Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi.

Budaiwi thanked and congratulated the United Arab Emirates on completing the railway construction within its territory and extending it to the border with Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Middle East Rail Exhibition and Conference, he underlined the keenness of Gulf leaders to support the process of joint Gulf action to enhance cooperation to reach the desired integration in all fields.

GCC states have taken thoughtful steps to coordinate and unify their policies and strategies, aiming to crystallize an applicable collective action framework that meets the ambitions and aspirations of their people, he added.

Budaiwi affirmed that the GCC states have been able to complete several strategic integration projects.

He stressed that the efforts of the General Secretariat, the GCC Rail Authority, and member states to complete the railway project represent a significant step in the joint Gulf interdependence and integration given its direct positive impact on trade and the free mobility of citizens and residents of the Gulf.

The project also supports joint investments between the member states and strengthens Gulf economic integration and its impact on the global economy.

Budaiwi remarked that the member states, the General Secretariat, and the Gulf Rail Authority are following up on the implementation of the GCC railway project and some member states have already completed building parts of the project within their territories.



Gold Eases from Record Peak on Profit-taking; Trump's Tariffs in Focus

Gold bars at a gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 01 April 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
Gold bars at a gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 01 April 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
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Gold Eases from Record Peak on Profit-taking; Trump's Tariffs in Focus

Gold bars at a gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 01 April 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
Gold bars at a gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 01 April 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Gold dipped on Thursday as traders locked in profits after prices hit a record high, following a rush to safe-haven assets triggered by US President Donald Trump's aggressive import tariffs, which escalated the already intense global trade war.

Spot gold was down 0.4% at $3,122.1, as of 0710 GMT. Earlier in the session, bullion hit an all-time high of $3,167.57.

US gold futures fell 0.7% to $3,145.00.

Trump unveiled on Wednesday a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the US, and higher duties on dozens of countries, including some of its biggest trading partners, deepening a trade war that has rattled global markets, Reuters said.

The reciprocal tariffs do not apply to certain goods, including gold, energy and "certain minerals that are not available in the US," according to a White House fact sheet.

One of the factors supporting gold was "the slowdown that tariffs are likely to cause the US economy, raising the prospects of future rate cuts," Capital.com's financial market analyst Kyle Rodda said.

The Trump administration confirmed that the 25% global car and truck tariffs will take effect on April 3, as planned, and duties on automotive parts imports will be launched on May 3.

Gold is in "a pure momentum trade, where bulls who were left for dust are agonizing on the side line, eager for even the smallest of dips, and until we see a volatile shakeout big enough to stun bulls and bears, the momentum trade could continue higher," said Matt Simpson, a senior analyst at City Index.

Gold, a hedge against political and financial instabilities, has surged more than 19% year-to-date, mainly driven by tariff jitters, rate- cut possibilities, geopolitical conflicts, and central bank buying.

"There's also some front running going on amongst traders who anticipate (Trump's) policies will drive central banks to park their reserves in gold rather than US dollar-denominated assets," Rodda said.

Market awaits US non-farm payrolls report due on Friday for clues into the Federal Reserve's policy path.

Spot silver slipped 2.8% to $33.07 an ounce, platinum fell 1.5% to $968.37, and palladium lost 1.4% to $956.50.