Saudi Real Estate Profits Jump 153% at End of 3rd Quarter

The profits of real estate sector companies in Saudi Arabia jumped by 153 percent during the first nine months of 2023. (SPA)
The profits of real estate sector companies in Saudi Arabia jumped by 153 percent during the first nine months of 2023. (SPA)
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Saudi Real Estate Profits Jump 153% at End of 3rd Quarter

The profits of real estate sector companies in Saudi Arabia jumped by 153 percent during the first nine months of 2023. (SPA)
The profits of real estate sector companies in Saudi Arabia jumped by 153 percent during the first nine months of 2023. (SPA)

The profits of real estate sector companies in Saudi Arabia jumped by 153 percent during the first nine months of 2023, compared to the same period last year, due to the growth of real estate and the major development projects implemented by the Saudi government and the private sector.

Real estate sector companies achieved an increase in their profitability during the third quarter of 2023, amounting to SAR 1.35 billion ($367.5 million) over the same period last year, after achieving consolidated profits amounting to SAR 2.23 billion ($602.1 million), compared to profits amounting to SAR 883.16 million ($238.4 million) in the same period of 2022.

The combined net profits of real estate companies listed on the Saudi Tadawul main market increased by 84.39 percent during the third quarter of 2023 on an annual basis, while 13 companies listed in the sector achieved combined profits amounting to SAR 971.04 million, compared to profits of SAR 526.64 million in the third quarter of 2022.

Real estate sector companies continued to record profitability on a quarterly basis. Their profits increased by 44.58 percent during the third quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of the same year, reaching SAR 671.61 million.

In sales volume and revenues, real estate sector companies recorded an increase by 13.99 percent, reaching SAR 3.29 billion, compared to SAR 2.89 billion in the same quarter of last year. Revenues in the first nine months of 2023 also increased by 9.99 percent. The companies achieved sales and revenues worth more than SAR 9.94 billion in the first nine months of 2023, compared to SAR 9.04 billion in the same period last year.



Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
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Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold prices rose over 1% to hit a two-week peak on Friday, heading for the best weekly performance in more than a year, buoyed by safe-haven demand as Russia-Ukraine tensions intensified.

Spot gold jumped 1.3% to $2,703.05 per ounce as of 1245 GMT, hitting its highest since Nov. 8. US gold futures gained 1.1% to $2,705.30.

Bullion rose despite the US dollar hitting a 13-month high, while bitcoin hit a record peak and neared the $100,000 level.

"With both gold and USD (US dollar) rising, it seems that safe-haven demand is lifting both assets," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Ukraine's military said its drones struck four oil refineries, radar stations and other military installations in Russia, Reuters reported.

Gold has gained over 5% so far this week, its best weekly performance since October 2023. Prices have gained around $173 after slipping to a two-month low last week.

"We understand that the price setback has been used by 'Western world' investors under-allocated to gold to build exposure considering the geopolitical risks that are still around. So we continue to expect gold to rise further over the coming months," Staunovo said.

Bullion tends to shine during geopolitical tensions, economic risks, and a low interest rate environment. Markets are pricing in a 59.4% chance of a 25-basis-points cut at the Fed's December meeting, per the CME Fedwatch tool.

However, "if Fed skips or pauses its rate cut in December, that will be negative for gold prices and we could see some pullback," said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ.

The Chicago Federal Reserve president reiterated his support for further US interest rate cuts on Thursday.

On Friday, spot silver rose 1.8% to $31.34 per ounce, platinum eased 0.1% to $960.13 and palladium fell 0.6% to $1,023.55. All three metals were on track for a weekly rise.