Brazilian-Saudi Investment Forum Witnesses Signing of 25 MoUs in Various Fields

The forum included presentations on Invest Saudi, a program that aims to promote investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to the world. (SPA)
The forum included presentations on Invest Saudi, a program that aims to promote investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to the world. (SPA)
TT

Brazilian-Saudi Investment Forum Witnesses Signing of 25 MoUs in Various Fields

The forum included presentations on Invest Saudi, a program that aims to promote investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to the world. (SPA)
The forum included presentations on Invest Saudi, a program that aims to promote investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to the world. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Investment organized on Monday in Sao Paulo the Brazilian-Saudi Investment Forum, which saw the signing of many memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in various fields, SPA said.
The 25 MoUs covered the fields of petrochemicals, healthcare, defense, food, real estate, tourism, water desalination and treatment, and agriculture.
Attending the Forum were Brazil’s Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services Geraldo Alckmin; Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih; Mayor of Sao Paulo Ricardo Nunes; Saudi Ambassador to Brazil Faisal bin Ibrahim Ghulam; President of the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo Josue Gomes; and a number of government officials, CEOs of major companies as well as representatives of the private sector from both countries.
The Forum constituted a significant opportunity for Saudi and Brazilian companies to exchange expertise, explore collaboration and partnership prospects and discover the investment opportunities available in the two countries.
The Forum also saw presentations about the “INVEST SAUDI” initiative, investment in the Kingdom’s economic zones, Riyadh Expo 2030, investment opportunities in Brazil and the investment environment in Sao Paulo.
Additionally, dialogue sessions were held during the Forum, covering the sectors of transportation, logistics services, mining, food industries, agriculture, healthcare, sports, and entertainment.



Dollar Strengthens on Elevated US Bond Yields, Tariff Talks

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
TT

Dollar Strengthens on Elevated US Bond Yields, Tariff Talks

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo

The dollar rose for a second day on Wednesday on higher US bond yields, sending other major currencies to multi-month lows, with a report that Donald Trump was mulling emergency measures to allow for a new tariff program also lending support.

The already-firm dollar climbed higher on Wednesday after CNN reported that President-elect Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency as legal justification for a large swath of universal tariffs on allies and adversaries.

The dollar index was last up 0.5% at 109.24, not far from the two-year peak of 109.58 it hit last week, Reuters reported.

Its gains were broad-based, with the euro down 0.43% at $1.0293 and Britain's pound under particular pressure, down 1.09% at $1.2342.

Data on Tuesday showed US job openings unexpectedly rose in November and layoffs were low, while a separate survey showed US services sector activity accelerated in December and a measure of input prices hit a two-year high - a possible inflation warning.

Bond markets reacted by sending 10-year Treasury yields up more than eight basis points on Tuesday, with the yield climbing to 4.728% on Wednesday.

"We're getting very strong US numbers... which has rates going up," said Bart Wakabayashi, Tokyo branch manager at State Street, pushing expectations of Fed rate cuts out to the northern summer or beyond.

"There's even the discussion about, will they cut, or may they even hike? The narrative has changed quite significantly."

Markets are now pricing in just 36 basis points of easing from the Fed this year, with a first cut in July.

US private payrolls data due later in the session will be eyed for further clues on the likely path of US rates.

Traders are jittery ahead of key US labor data on Friday and the inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20, with his second US presidency expected to begin with a flurry of policy announcements and executive orders.

The move in the pound drew particular attention, as it came alongside a sharp sell-off in British stocks and government bonds. The 10-year gilt yield is at its highest since 2008.

Higher yields in general are more likely to lead to a stronger currency, but not in this case.

"With a non-data driven rise in yields that is not driven by any positive news - and the trigger seems to be inflation concern in the US, and Treasuries are selling off - the correlation inverts," said Francesco Pesole, currency analyst at ING.

"That doesn't happen for every currency, but the pound remains more sensitive than most other currencies to a rise in yields, likely because there's still this lack of confidence in the sustainability of budget measures."

Markets did not welcome the budget from Britain's new Labor government late last year.

Elsewhere, the yen sagged close to the 160 per dollar level that drew intervention last year, touching 158.55, its weakest on the dollar for nearly six months.

Japan's consumer sentiment deteriorated in December, a government survey showed, casting doubt on the central bank's view that solid household spending will underpin the economy and justify a rise in interest rates.

China's yuan hit 7.3322 per dollar, the lowest level since September 2023.