Saudi FM Heads Kingdom’s Delegation at Davos

The logo of the WEF on a window of the Congress Center as participants and artificial intelligence generated artwork by Turkish-American media artist Refik Anadol are reflected inside the congress center on the eve of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 14 January 2024. (EPA)
The logo of the WEF on a window of the Congress Center as participants and artificial intelligence generated artwork by Turkish-American media artist Refik Anadol are reflected inside the congress center on the eve of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 14 January 2024. (EPA)
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Saudi FM Heads Kingdom’s Delegation at Davos

The logo of the WEF on a window of the Congress Center as participants and artificial intelligence generated artwork by Turkish-American media artist Refik Anadol are reflected inside the congress center on the eve of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 14 January 2024. (EPA)
The logo of the WEF on a window of the Congress Center as participants and artificial intelligence generated artwork by Turkish-American media artist Refik Anadol are reflected inside the congress center on the eve of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 14 January 2024. (EPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Davos on Sunday heading the Kingdom’s delegation at the 2024 World Economic Forum.

At the global event, the delegation will discuss the greatest regional and international challenges and means to tackle them through dialogue and international cooperation.

It will discuss economic integration, the sustainability of resources, and benefiting from innovation and technical solutions.

It will stress the need to explore opportunities created by emerging technologies and their impact on forging international policies and decision-making.

The delegation will highlight the progress the Kingdom has made in its Vision 2030 and the transformation and development underway in the country in various fields. It will underscore the available investment opportunities in several sectors aimed at achieving a prosperous and diversified economy.



Gold Hits Record High

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Gold Hits Record High

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices charged to an all-time high on Thursday as expectations of more US Federal Reserve rate cuts and uncertainty over the US presidential election boosted demand for bullion, while traders awaited US economic data.
Spot gold rose 0.2% to $2,678.13 per ounce by 0934 GMT, after hitting a record high of $2,685.60, Reuters reported.
US gold futures gained 0.1% to $2,693.60.
"With the US election less than three weeks away, market caution is likely to remain a key theme. Given the tight race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, this adds another layer of uncertainty – stimulating demand for safe haven assets," said FXTM senior research analyst Lukman Otunuga.
Gold has added over 30% so far this year, with a record-breaking rally driven by expectations that the Fed will further cut rates this year after a jumbo reduction last month and on the ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.
The European Central Bank is also expected to make its first back-to-back rate cut in 13 years later in the day.
Lower interest rates and geopolitical tensions tend to boost bullion, which is considered a safe asset and yields no interest.
"The LBMA poll that came out from Miami earlier in the week, where the base look for gold prices was to rally near $3,000 in the next year and silver doing even better, I think that potential is also just attracting a bit of attention," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.
The price of gold is expected to rise to $2,941, a troy ounce over the next 12 months from the current $2,661, delegates to the London Bullion Market Association's annual gathering predicted earlier this week.
Traders are on the lookout for the US retail sales and industrial production data for September and weekly jobless claims data due later in the day.
"A set of disappointing US data may fuel bets around Fed rate cuts," Otunuga added.
Elsewhere, spot silver fell 0.3% to $31.57 per ounce. Platinum rose 0.6% to $999.20 and palladium fell 0.4% to $1,019.56.