عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Arabia's Liquidity Hits All-Time High of SAR2.825 Trillion

Saudi Arabia's Liquidity Hits All-Time High of SAR2.825 Trillion
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia's Liquidity Hits All-Time High of SAR2.825 Trillion

Saudi Arabia's Liquidity Hits All-Time High of SAR2.825 Trillion

Saudi Arabia's liquidity levels continued to grow strongly, reaching SAR2,825,715 million at the end of May 2024, marking an annual growth of approximately 8.6%, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

This represented an increase of more than SAR222,928 billion compared to the same period in 2023, which stood at SAR2,602,786 million. These levels reflect the broad money supply (M3) as reported in the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)'s monthly statistical bulletin for May 2024.

Since the beginning of the year, liquidity has grown by 4%, representing an increase of more than SAR104,757 billion. At the end of January, it stood at SAR2,720,957 million.

Liquidity levels also achieved a monthly growth of approximately 1.2%, with an increase of about SAR32,402 billion compared to the end of April of the same year when it stood at SAR2,793,313 million.

These liquidity levels strongly support economic and commercial activity, contributing effectively to the economic development process and enabling the achievement of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. This reflects the strength and solidity of the banking and financial sector.

A breakdown of the four components of the broad money supply (M3) is as follows: Demand deposits, the largest contributor to the total money supply (M3) at 49.2%, recorded a level of SAR1,390,893 million at the end of May 2024.

Time and savings deposits, the second-largest contributor to the total money supply (M3) at 31.5%, recorded a level of SAR889,558 million.

Other quasi-money deposits amounted to SAR314,807 million, representing a contribution of approximately 11.1% to the total money supply (M3), making it the third-largest contributor. Lastly, "currency in circulation outside banks" amounted to SAR230,456 million, contributing approximately 8.2% to the total money supply (M3).

Quasi-money deposits consist of residents' deposits in foreign currencies, deposits against letters of credit, outstanding transfers, and repurchase agreements (repos) conducted by banks with the private sector.

Domestic liquidity includes M1, which comprises currency in circulation outside banks in addition to demand deposits only, and M2, which includes M1 plus time and savings deposits. The broad definition, M3, includes M2 plus other quasi-money deposits.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Crown Prince Launches CEER's Flagship Vehicles

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
TT
TT

Crown Prince Launches CEER's Flagship Vehicles

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has launched EXOBOT, the flagship electric vehicles from CEER, Saudi Arabia's national automotive company.

This national milestone reflects Saudi Arabia's strategic direction toward developing an advanced industrial sector aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and further strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position in the global automotive industry, SPA reported.

Commenting on this occasion, the Crown Prince said: "The launch of CEER's first vehicles represents another step forward in Saudi Arabia's progression to build a sustainable and prosperous industrial ecosystem. It further enables the automotive sector as a key driver of economic growth, through attracting investments, empowering national talent, and expanding the private sector's role to further position Saudi Arabia to become a leading regional and global hub for this industry."

The EXOBOT sedan and SUV vehicles represent part of a planned portfolio of seven models that will be launched over the next five years, including midsize and compact vehicles with various propulsion options to serve different customer needs.

These vehicles will be manufactured at CEER Manufacturing Complex (CMC), the largest automotive production facility in the Middle East and one of the most technologically advanced in the world.

Additionally, the EXOBOT sedan and SUV feature a distinctive design inspired by Saudi Arabia's landscape, rooted in its culture, and reflective of its vision. Designed and engineered locally, the vehicles have been developed according to the highest global standards, further strengthening Saudi Arabia's position as a rising force in the global automotive industry.

By 2034, CEER is projected to contribute over SAR30 billion ($8 billion) to Saudi Arabia's GDP, over SAR80 billion ($21 billion) to trade balance improvement, and create quality direct and indirect jobs.

The announcement aligns with PIF's efforts to develop an integrated and competitive local automotive ecosystem, as part of PIF's mandate as a key driver of Saudi Arabia's economic diversification. PIF launched CEER in 2022 as the first Saudi vehicle brand to support the development of the national industrial ecosystem, attract investments, create opportunities for the private sector, and increase Saudi GDP.

Business

Oil Prices Slide on Hopes of Diplomacy in Iran War

Oil tankers in Basra port (Reuters)
Oil tankers in Basra port (Reuters)
TT
TT

Oil Prices Slide on Hopes of Diplomacy in Iran War

Oil tankers in Basra port (Reuters)
Oil tankers in Basra port (Reuters)

Oil prices slid to their lowest in more than a week on Monday as investors hoped for diplomatic progress on the Iran war due to this week's UN meeting.

Brent crude futures and US West Texas Intermediate crude touched their lowest since September 10 earlier on Monday. The Brent contract for November was at $102.09 a barrel at 0655 GMT, down $1.78, or 1.71%, after settling 0.91% lower on Friday, Reuters said.

The WTI October contract that is expiring on Tuesday fell $1.97, or 1.96%, to $98.33 a barrel following a ‌1.58% drop in the ‌previous session.

"It seems that a degree of risk premium is ‌being ⁠removed from oil prices ⁠on hopes that a diplomatic path to de-escalate the US-Iran war may arrive this week," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

"Whether that hope proves to be warranted or not is another question. Time will tell."

WTI broke a key psychological support at $100 a barrel while some investors may have rolled over their positions in the October contract a day ahead of expiry to November, a Singapore-based broker said.

Iran and the US exchanged new threats on Sunday, although President Donald Trump said ⁠he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is ‌expected to be in New York this week for ‌the United Nations General Assembly.

Iran has conveyed its conditions to mediators for re-engaging in negotiations aimed at ‌ending the war with the US, Al Jazeera cited Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, as ‌saying in an interview on Saturday.

On Monday, a spokesman ‌for the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Mohebbi, said Iran would use new weapons and target locations not previously attacked if the US launched a ⁠new offensive against it, ⁠according to the Fars news agency.

China has asked Iran to help rein in the Houthis after an appeal to Beijing following the attacks, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the matter.

Business

Gold Slips as Focus Remains on Middle East, Rate Outlook

Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)
Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)
TT
TT

Gold Slips as Focus Remains on Middle East, Rate Outlook

Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)
Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)

Gold prices slipped on Monday as market participants assessed developments in the Middle East and their implications for inflation and interest rates.

Spot gold fell 0.3% to $4,362.60 per ounce by 0417 GMT after hitting a one-week high on Friday. US gold futures were down 0.6% at $4,400.20, Reuters reported.

Iran and the United States exchanged new threats, with President ‌Donald Trump ‌warning Iran would fail economically or face its ‌leadership ⁠being wiped out ⁠if it didn't make a deal, and the Iranian military saying it would retaliate harshly to any fresh attack.

"The focus remains on geopolitics, oil and the reaction in bond yields. For gold to gain meaningful upside traction, a clear move lower in oil and/or bond yields is likely required," said Tim Waterer, chief market ⁠analyst at KCM Trade.

"Gold may trade in a ‌roughly $4,200 to $4,580 range in the near ‌term."

Oil prices fell on hopes diplomacy in the Iran war will ‌get a chance this week amid a UN meet.

The prospect of a new global rate-tightening cycle has come into focus as some of the world's top central banks ‌raise rates and signal more may be needed to tame inflation fueled by the Iran war.

The Bank ⁠of Japan ⁠became the latest big central bank to tighten on Friday, following rate increases by the Federal Reserve earlier that week and the European Central Bank the week before.

Though gold is often seen as an inflation hedge, rising rates tend to curb its demand by making interest-bearing assets more attractive.

Analysts at Standard Chartered said in a note that gold remains volatile but continues to find firm downside support from official-sector demand. They said structural drivers remain in place to lift prices, albeit at a slower pace.

Among other metals, spot silver rose 0.2% to $66.37, platinum fell 0.1% to $1,798.31 and palladium added 0.6% at $1,309.65.