Sinopec Says Keen on Participating in Shale Gas Project in Saudi Arabia

FILE PHOTO: A man looks at models displayed at the booth of Chinese oil company Sinopec during the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A man looks at models displayed at the booth of Chinese oil company Sinopec during the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo
TT
20

Sinopec Says Keen on Participating in Shale Gas Project in Saudi Arabia

FILE PHOTO: A man looks at models displayed at the booth of Chinese oil company Sinopec during the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A man looks at models displayed at the booth of Chinese oil company Sinopec during the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo

Asia's top refiner, Sinopec Corp, is not interested in acquiring Shell's refinery or petrochemical plant in Singapore although it is keen on participating in a shale gas project in Saudi Arabia, the Chinese company's president said on Monday.

Sinopec President Yu Baocai, speaking at a briefing in Hong Kong after the state-run oil and gas giant reported a 20% decline in interim earnings, said that Sinopec is interested in participating in Saudi Arabia's Jafurah shale gas project.

Yu also said that Sinopec was one of the international companies invited by the Sri Lankan government to build a refinery there, and that it was evaluating the matter.



Gold Slips More Than 1% as China Considers US Tariff Exemption

FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth//File Photo
TT
20

Gold Slips More Than 1% as China Considers US Tariff Exemption

FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth//File Photo

Gold prices lost more than 1% on Friday and were heading for a weekly fall on signals of a potential de-escalation in the US-China trade war, including news that China was weighing tariff exemptions for some US goods.

Spot gold fell 1.5% to $3,299.69 an ounce as of 0830 GMT. US gold futures shed 1.1% to $3,310.20.

"Gold is facing challenges in sustaining upward momentum as optimism around a potential US-China trade agreement grows," said Zain Vawda, an analyst at MarketPulse by OANDA.

The dollar jumped reversing losses from the prior day while European shares rose after a media report that China was weighing tariff exemptions for some US goods, stoking hopes for a de-escalation in a spiraling trade war between the world's two largest economies.

A higher dollar makes the bullion more expensive for overseas buyers.

"A US-China trade agreement could push gold down toward $3,000/oz or lower, depending on other influencing factors," Vawda said.

US President Donald Trump asserted that trade talks with China are underway, pushing back against Chinese claims that no discussions have taken place to ease the ongoing trade war.

Gold, traditionally seen as a hedge against geopolitical and economic uncertainties has gained nearly 26% so far this year. It also touched a record high of $3,500.05 on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials indicated they saw no urgency in revising the monetary policy as they sought more information to determine how the Trump administration's tariffs were affecting the economy.

Non-yielding bullion tends to thrive in a low interest rate environment.

"Now that the market's corrected it will be a good indicator if buying picks up in India," said Ross Norman, an independent analyst.

Spot silver fell 0.6% to $33.36 an ounce, platinum dropped 1.2% at $958.89 and palladium fell 1.6% to $938.78.

Silver was headed for a weekly gain while the other two metals were seen falling for the week.