Saudi Industry Minister Visits Tanger Med Port in Morocco

The Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources has visited the Tanger Med Port Center in Morocco. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources has visited the Tanger Med Port Center in Morocco. SPA
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Saudi Industry Minister Visits Tanger Med Port in Morocco

The Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources has visited the Tanger Med Port Center in Morocco. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources has visited the Tanger Med Port Center in Morocco. SPA

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef has visited the Tanger Med Port Center in Morocco as part of efforts to enhance ties between the Kingdom and Morocco.

During the visit, Alkhorayef was briefed on the stages of container processing, as the port constitutes an important industrial and logistical platform for more than 1,200 companies in various activities, including cars, aircraft, and textiles, and handles about 9 million containers annually.

Alkhorayef toured the facility and saw the logistics services that facilitate international trade, given the port's strategic location.

The minister was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, Eng. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, and the Saudi Ambassador to Morocco, Dr. Sami bin Abdullah Al-Saleh.



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.