UK Second Largest Foreign Investor in Saudi Arabia

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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UK Second Largest Foreign Investor in Saudi Arabia

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih highlighted the deep-rooted Saudi-British relations, saying the UK is the second largest foreign investor in the Kingdom with approximately $16 billion in investment shares.

This came during a panel session held on Tuesday as part of the Great Futures Initiative Conference at the King Abdullah Financial District. The event was held with United Kingdom (UK) Minister for Business and Trade Lord Dominic Johnson.
“The investment sector relies heavily on banks and economic ventures in the financial field," Al-Falih said, indicating that the Kingdom has the fastest growing economy over the past six years.
For his part, the British minister hailed the Kingdom's achievements in expanding joint economic ventures, noting that economic cooperation between the two countries will continue for many decades to come.
He also explained that economic cooperation between the two kingdoms demonstrates the depth of relations and cooperation, as the UK is keen to participate in Saudi Arabia's development.
The UK minister also commended the remarkable development in the Kingdom and the ease of access to investment in the Saudi market, citing the exceptional opportunities for British investors in Saudi Arabia.



Dollar General Forecasts Tepid 2025 due to Strained Consumer Spending

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
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Dollar General Forecasts Tepid 2025 due to Strained Consumer Spending

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

Dollar General on Thursday forecast annual sales and profit targets below estimates, joining a growing list of retailers that have signalled a grim year as still-high inflation and economic uncertainty dent consumer spending.

Retailers including Walmart, Target, Home Depot and Best Buy have raised caution about weak consumer spending in 2025 due to tariff uncertainty, as well as potential price hikes the levies would bring about, Reuters reported.

Shares of Dollar General were, however, up about 5% in premarket trading, as the discount retailer beat estimates for holiday-quarter sales and profit. The stock has slumped nearly 70% over the last two years.

The company benefitted from improving its private-label brands selling everyday essentials, and remodelling its stores as part of a turnaround plan laid out by CEO Todd Vasos late in 2023.

For the holiday quarter, its comparable sales rose 1.2%, ahead of estimates of a 0.96% rise, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Sales in the consumables category, which makes up about 80% of Dollar General's revenue, grew 5.3% in the quarter ended January 1, helping the company report a profit of $1.68 per share, topping estimates of $1.50.

The company expects annual same-store sales growth between 1.2% and 2.2%, compared with analysts' average estimate of a 1.82% rise.

It also forecast fiscal 2025 profit per share of about $5.10 to $5.80, below analysts' average estimate of $5.85.