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Saudi EXIM Bank Signs MOU with OPEC Fund for International Development

Saudi EXIM Bank Signs MOU with OPEC Fund for International Development
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Saudi EXIM Bank Signs MOU with OPEC Fund for International Development

Saudi EXIM Bank Signs MOU with OPEC Fund for International Development

The Saudi Export-Import Bank (EXIM) and the OPEC Fund for International Development have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation, support development initiatives, and promote Saudi non-oil exports in mutually beneficial markets. The agreement, inked during the 2024 OPEC Development Forum in Vienna, was signed by CEO of Saudi EXIM Eng. Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalab and the Director General of the OPEC Fund for International Development, Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa.
Eng. Al-Khalb emphasized that the MOU reflects Saudi EXIM's commitment to forging robust international partnerships and contributing to sustainable development efforts in collaboration with the global community. The initiative aims to bolster Saudi non-oil exports in international markets, thereby supporting local investors and strengthening the non-oil national economy in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
He praised the OPEC Fund for International Development's role in promoting economic growth across more than 70 countries worldwide and highlighted the EXIM Bank's enthusiasm for its pivotal role in these initiatives.
During the forum, Eng. Al-Khalb led Saudi EXIM's delegation in exploring opportunities for international development initiatives, enhancing trade relations, and establishing partnerships to facilitate Saudi non-oil exports. He held meetings with various ministers and CEOs of international commercial and development institutions, including discussions with Minister of State for Financial Affairs in the Maldives Hussain Adam on enhancing cooperation for Saudi exports in Asian markets. Additionally, he met with CEO of Africa 50 Alain Ebobisse to explore collaboration opportunities for Saudi exports in African markets, as well as discussions on expanding exports to Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Gold Eyes Best Quarter in over Eight Years

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Gold Eyes Best Quarter in over Eight Years

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)

Gold halted its record run on Friday but remained on track for its best quarter since 2016 after a rally catalysed by an outsized US Federal Reserve interest rate cut, while markets braced themselves for a crucial inflation report due later in the day.

Spot gold was down 0.1% at $2,666.50 per ounce as of 1115 GMT, below the all-time peak of $2,685.42 hit in the previous session. It is heading for its best quarter since the first three months of 2016.

US gold futures fell 0.2% to $2,688.90, Reuters reported.

"The market at this point in time has priced in all the good news and there's also some hesitancy from fresh buyers to get involved at these record high levels," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

Bullion has risen 29% so far this year, hitting successive record peaks after last week's half-percentage-point cut by the Federal Reserve and the stimulus measures announced by China earlier this week.

Silver prices surged, tracking bullion's strong performance, though some analysts warn that the rally may fade.

"Overall, industrial demand is still supportive for silver. But we need to have a stronger economic performance in China as well as in other developed countries," said ANZ commodity strategist Soni Kumari.

The surge in silver prices is more a spillover impact from gold, Kumari said.

Spot silver eased 0.1% to $31.98 per ounce, after hitting its highest since December 2012 at $32.71 on Thursday. It is set for a third straight week of gains.

"I do believe silver will continue to outperform gold. But as we all know, wherever gold goes, silver tends to go, but faster," Hansen added.

Both gold and silver serve as safe-haven investments, but the latter has more industrial applications, so tends to underperform during recessions and outperform when economies expand.

Inflows into gold exchange-traded funds, particularly from Western investors, are set to rise in coming months, adding yet more positive stimulus for already record high bullion prices. Some banks expect gold to rise towards $3,000.

In other metals, platinum was up 0.5% at $1,012.40 but palladium fell nearly 1.5% to $1,031.75.