PIF Announces Initiatives to Support Saudi Arabia’s Asset Management Industry

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced two initiatives to support the development of Saudi Arabia’s asset management industry.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced two initiatives to support the development of Saudi Arabia’s asset management industry.
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PIF Announces Initiatives to Support Saudi Arabia’s Asset Management Industry

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced two initiatives to support the development of Saudi Arabia’s asset management industry.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced two initiatives to support the development of Saudi Arabia’s asset management industry.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced two initiatives to support the development of Saudi Arabia’s asset management industry, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.

The announcements, made at PIF’s inaugural Asset Management Forum at the Future Investment Initiative (FII7) in Riyadh, included the PIF Managers Gate Platform and the Portfolio Management Development Program.

The PIF Managers Gate sees the launch of a new digital platform for collaboration between PIF and external fund managers. The portal will enable secure data sharing, improved communications, and the digitization of operational and investment due diligence processes. It will promote growth in the asset management ecosystem by exploring potential opportunities and facilitating PIF’s seamless collaboration with fund managers.

PIF also announced the Portfolio Management Development Program, a comprehensive educational program delivered in partnership with IE University, and sponsored by SNB Capital, that will provide financial market training of the highest quality to aspiring portfolio managers in Saudi Arabia. The program is dedicated to setting a high standard for portfolio management practices within the Saudi market and will play a crucial role in the development and advancement of financial markets in Saudi Arabia.

Abdulmajeed Alhagbani, head of Securities Investment at PIF, said: “The asset management industry plays a vital role to support the efficient allocation of capital and management of risk in the economy, helping to promote economic growth and stability.”

“High-quality professional support, talent and capital are critical enablers of the asset management industry. PIF has significantly contributed to Saudi Arabia’s asset management industry’s access. The announcements demonstrate PIF’s steadfast commitment to the Saudi asset management industry and will support the further development of the industry as well as improving the resilience, depth and quality of Saudi Arabia’s capital markets,” he stressed.

The PIF Asset Management Forum brings together key players in the global asset management industry to discuss critical issues, and further support industry best practices. This year’s forum explored the importance of partnership, collaboration, and PIF’s framework to institutionalize and develop Saudi Arabia’s asset management industry in a series of panel discussions as well as a fireside chat between His Excellency, Capital Market Authority Governor, Mohammed ElKuwaiz and PIF Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments, Yazeed Alhumied.



Oil Steadies, But on Track for Biggest Weekly Loss in Over a Month

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
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Oil Steadies, But on Track for Biggest Weekly Loss in Over a Month

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

Crude oil futures steadied on Friday after strong US retail sales data, but Chinese economic indicators remained mixed and prices were headed for their biggest weekly loss in more than a month on concerns about demand.
Brent crude futures gained 8 cents, or 0.1%, to $74.53 a barrel by 0338 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $70.82 a barrel, up 15 cents, or 0.2%, Reuters said.
Both contracts settled higher on Thursday for the first time in five sessions after data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that US crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories fell last week.
Brent and WTI are set to fall about 6% this week, their biggest weekly decline since Sept. 2, after OPEC and the International Energy Agency cut their forecasts for global oil demand in 2024 and 2025 and concerns eased about a potential retaliatory attack by Israel on Iran that could disrupt Tehran's oil exports.
IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said while oil prices remained subdued on Friday, there were signs of near-term stabilization after the market factored in fading geopolitical risks over the past week.
"The recent run in stronger-than-expected US economic data does offer further relief around growth risks, but market participants are also side-eyeing any recovery in demand from China, given recent stimulus unleash," he said in an email.
US retail sales increased slightly more than expected in September, with investors still pricing in a 92% chance for a Federal Reserve rate cut in November.
Meanwhile, third-quarter economic growth in the world's top oil importer China was at its slowest pace since early 2023, though consumption and industrial output figures for September beat forecasts.
China's latest data dump offered somewhat of a mixed bag, with the country now officially falling short of its 5% growth target for the year and the absence of a sizable fiscal push seems to leave some reservations on overall oil demand, said IG's Yeap.
China's refinery output also declined for the third straight month as weak fuel consumption and thin refining margins curbed processing.
Markets, however, remained concerned about possible price spikes given simmering Middle East tensions, with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group saying on Friday it was moving to a new and escalating phase in its war against Israel after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Geopolitical risks, such as developments in the Middle East, will continue to drive fears of supply disruptions and in turn short-term spikes in oil prices, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.