Gold Hits Record High on US Rate Cut Bets

A jeweller shows a gold bar at his shop in downtown Kuwait City on May 20, 2024. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
A jeweller shows a gold bar at his shop in downtown Kuwait City on May 20, 2024. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Gold Hits Record High on US Rate Cut Bets

A jeweller shows a gold bar at his shop in downtown Kuwait City on May 20, 2024. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
A jeweller shows a gold bar at his shop in downtown Kuwait City on May 20, 2024. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

Gold prices scaled an all-time high on Wednesday, with recent comments from Federal Reserve officials boosting bets of a US interest rate cut in September.

Spot gold was up 0.1% at $2,470.89 per ounce, as of 0046 GMT, after hitting a record peak of $2,473.18 earlier in the session. US gold futures rose 0.3% to $2,473.70.

Markets are fully pricing in a rate cut of at least 25 basis points by the Fed at its September meeting, according to CME's FedWatch Tool, Reuters reported.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said on Monday recent inflation readings "add somewhat to confidence" that the pace of price increases is returning to the Fed's target in a sustainable fashion, remarks that suggest a turn to rate cuts may not be far off.

The International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday that the global economy is set for modest growth over the next two years amid cooling activity in the United States, a bottoming-out in Europe and stronger consumption and exports for China, but risks to the path abound.



Saudi Arabia Achieves 66% Grape Self-Sufficiency

The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops. - SPA
The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops. - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Achieves 66% Grape Self-Sufficiency

The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops. - SPA
The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops. - SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture reported that Saudi Arabia's grape production surpassed 122,000 tons in 2023, reflecting the robust growth of the local agricultural sector and its ability to meet significant market demands.

This production has contributed to a 66% self-sufficiency rate, strengthening national food security and reducing reliance on imports, according to SPA.
The Kingdom's grape industry comprises over 7.1 million grape trees, with more than 6.1 million bearing fruit, underscoring the sector's productive capacity. The diversity and quality of local grape varieties have made them highly competitive in domestic markets.
This variety also supports processing industries, enabling the production of natural juices, jams, raisins, and other food products, thereby enhancing the agricultural sector’s economic value in line with Vision 2030 goals.
The ministry continues to support farmers by providing access to modern technologies such as smart irrigation and organic farming practices to improve productivity, quality, and water resource efficiency.

The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops.