Aramco Completes Acquisition of 40% Stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan

At the closing ceremony are GO CEO Khalid Riaz, sitting left, and Aramco Director of International Retail Nader Douhan, sitting right. Standing, from left, are GO board members Bilal Ansari and Shahzad Mubeen, Aramco Executive Vice President of Products & Customers Yasser Mufti, GO Chairman Tariq Kirmani, and Aramco Vice President of Retail Ziyad Juraifani. (Aramco Official Site)
At the closing ceremony are GO CEO Khalid Riaz, sitting left, and Aramco Director of International Retail Nader Douhan, sitting right. Standing, from left, are GO board members Bilal Ansari and Shahzad Mubeen, Aramco Executive Vice President of Products & Customers Yasser Mufti, GO Chairman Tariq Kirmani, and Aramco Vice President of Retail Ziyad Juraifani. (Aramco Official Site)
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Aramco Completes Acquisition of 40% Stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan

At the closing ceremony are GO CEO Khalid Riaz, sitting left, and Aramco Director of International Retail Nader Douhan, sitting right. Standing, from left, are GO board members Bilal Ansari and Shahzad Mubeen, Aramco Executive Vice President of Products & Customers Yasser Mufti, GO Chairman Tariq Kirmani, and Aramco Vice President of Retail Ziyad Juraifani. (Aramco Official Site)
At the closing ceremony are GO CEO Khalid Riaz, sitting left, and Aramco Director of International Retail Nader Douhan, sitting right. Standing, from left, are GO board members Bilal Ansari and Shahzad Mubeen, Aramco Executive Vice President of Products & Customers Yasser Mufti, GO Chairman Tariq Kirmani, and Aramco Vice President of Retail Ziyad Juraifani. (Aramco Official Site)

Saudi oil giant Aramco said it has made further progress in its global retail expansion by completing the acquisition of a 40% equity stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd. (“GO”).

GO is a diversified downstream fuels, lubricants and retail store operator in Pakistan with a network of more than 1,200 retail fuel stations, Aramco said in a statement on Friday.

It added that the acquisition, first announced in December 2023, represents Aramco’s first Downstream retail investment in Pakistan and signals the Company’s growing retail presence in high-value markets.

"In March, Aramco also acquired a 100% equity stake in Esmax Distribución SpA (“Esmax”), a leading diversified downstream fuels and lubricants retailer in Chile," the statement added.

In this regard, Yasser Mufti, Aramco Executive Vice President of Products & Customers, said: “Our global retail expansion is gaining pace and this acquisition is an important next step on our journey. Through our strategic partnership with GO, we look forward to supplying Aramco’s high-quality products and services to valued customers in Pakistan."

"We are also delighted to welcome another high-caliber addition to Aramco’s growing network of global partners, and look forward to combining our resources and expertise to unlock new opportunities and further grow the Aramco brand overseas.”



Gold Steady as Focus Shifts to US Data for Economic Cues

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
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Gold Steady as Focus Shifts to US Data for Economic Cues

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices were little changed on Monday, while investors awaited a slew of US economic data including the December nonfarm payrolls report for further guidance on the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates.
Spot gold held its ground at $2,635.39 per ounce by 0510 GMT. US gold futures dropped 0.2% to $2,646.80.
How the US jobs data fares this week could hold the key to whether gold breaks out of its recent range, said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
"There is a plethora of US data due for release this week (including ISM Services PMI data), and any downside misses could hurt the USD and help gold."
The US jobs report, due on Friday, is expected to provide more clues to the Fed's rate outlook after the US central bank rattled markets last month by reducing its projected cuts for 2025.
Investors are also awaiting ADP hiring and job openings data, as well as minutes of the Fed's last policy meeting for further direction.
Gold flourishes in a low-interest-rate environment and serves as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainties and inflation.
US President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to office on Jan. 20 and his proposed tariffs and protectionist policies are expected to fuel inflation.
This could prompt the Fed to go slow on rate cuts, limiting gold's upside. After three rate cuts in 2024, the Fed has projected only two reductions for 2025 due to persistent inflation.
The US central bank's benchmark policy rate should stay restrictive until it is more certain that inflation is returning to its 2% target, Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin said on Friday.
Spot silver was down 0.2% at $29.57 per ounce, platinum dipped 0.7% to $931.30 and palladium fell 0.4% to $918.22.