Oil Slips on Higher US Crude Stocks, Easing Mideast Tensions

FILE PHOTO: A view of the Stena forth drill rig for Springfield Group, the first independent African energy company to discover oil in deep sea, is pictured at the sea near Takoradi, Ghana November 15, 2019. REUTERS/Kweku Obeng/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the Stena forth drill rig for Springfield Group, the first independent African energy company to discover oil in deep sea, is pictured at the sea near Takoradi, Ghana November 15, 2019. REUTERS/Kweku Obeng/File Photo
TT

Oil Slips on Higher US Crude Stocks, Easing Mideast Tensions

FILE PHOTO: A view of the Stena forth drill rig for Springfield Group, the first independent African energy company to discover oil in deep sea, is pictured at the sea near Takoradi, Ghana November 15, 2019. REUTERS/Kweku Obeng/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the Stena forth drill rig for Springfield Group, the first independent African energy company to discover oil in deep sea, is pictured at the sea near Takoradi, Ghana November 15, 2019. REUTERS/Kweku Obeng/File Photo

Oil prices slipped on Wednesday on estimates showing swelling US crude inventories and expectations that tensions in the Middle East were easing following a tour of the region by mediators.
Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.1%, to $77.09 a barrel by 0630 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude dipped 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $73.03, Reuters reported.
US crude oil stocks were seen rising last week by 347,000 barrels, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Gasoline and distillate stocks, however, fell by 1.043 million barrels and 2.247 million barrels respectively, according to the sources.
The United States is the world's biggest producer and consumer of oil, and growing inventories point to oversupply that could pressure prices.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a trip to the Middle East intended to help broker a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Blinken and mediators from Egypt and Qatar have raised hopes for a US "bridging proposal," which could shrink the gaps between the two sides in the 10-month-old war.
"Hopes of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas have weighed on oil, along with lingering demand concerns," ING commodities strategists said.
"While weaker Chinese demand has been well reported, refinery margins around the globe have been under pressure for much of August, suggesting that these demand concerns are not isolated to just China," they said.
The economic struggles in top crude importer China have continued to hobble the market, as weak processing margins and low fuel demand curbed operations at state-run and independent refineries.
Imports of crude oil from top supplier Russia fell in July by 7.4% from a year ago, while fuel oil imports retreated for a third straight month, customs data showed this week.



Cityscape Global Returns to Riyadh in November under the Theme 'The Future of Living'

Cityscape Global Returns to Riyadh in November under the Theme 'The Future of Living'
TT

Cityscape Global Returns to Riyadh in November under the Theme 'The Future of Living'

Cityscape Global Returns to Riyadh in November under the Theme 'The Future of Living'

Riyadh will host the second edition of Cityscape Global, the region’s leading real estate event, in November.

Organized by Saudi Arabia’s Tahaluf, the event is set to be the biggest in the international series’ history.

Taking place from November 11-14 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, Malham, Cityscape Global 2024 will be held under the theme "The Future of Living". It will be sponsored by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and supported by the General Real Estate Authority and Housing Program, said Tahaluf in a statement on Tuesday.

With a heightened B2B and investment focus for its second edition in Saudi Arabia, Cityscape Global 2024 is poised to retain its standing as the largest property showcase of its kind globally, with over 400 exhibitors, 500 speakers, and seven conferences.

This year, Tahaluf has added additional sector profiles to the Cityscape Global line-up. Joining the portfolio are Stadiums and Attractions, Sustainable Smart Buildings, Smart Hotels, and Developers, in addition to Smart Cities focus throughout the event with a dedicated conference and tech zone.

Cityscape Global will be a platform for international collaboration and knowledge exchange aimed at developing sustainable and future-proof cities within Saudi Arabia and beyond.

"Saudi Arabia's real estate landscape is undergoing an enormous transformation driven by Vision 2030. The comprehensive strategy for the real estate sector aims to achieve the goals of the vision by building a prosperous and solid economy and vibrant, integrated communities in an ambitious nation," said Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail.

Cityscape Global is a major catalyst for this transformation in the real estate sector, as this huge event brings together investors, developers, and industry leaders to showcase and discover major real estate projects and enhance international cooperation between companies operating in the sector, in an effort to create a bright future where opportunities and prosperity are within everyone’s reach, said the statement.

Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) Board of Directors Chairman Faisal bin Saud Al-Khamisi said: "Our goal at Cityscape Global 2024 is to align with the Vision 2030 set by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the housing sector."

"We aim to attract investors, developers, innovators, and stakeholders from around the world to showcase their projects, exchange knowledge, establish partnerships, and collaborate in building the cities of tomorrow at the international, regional, and local levels. Our objective is to create a significant advancement in the future of urban life," he added.

The largest Cityscape-branded event in history will incubate investment opportunities through a dedicated investors program and tailored networking opportunities, while also showcasing the intelligent infrastructure, technology-driven solutions, and data-driven planning needed to create efficient, sustainable, and livable urban environments.

Cityscape Global will also highlight Saudi Arabia's sports infrastructure development, emphasizing the eight newly announced stadiums, and will feature a special segment dedicated to stadiums and mega events.

Last year’s edition of the event, also held in the Kingdom, attracted over 300 exhibitors, 55% of which were international, in addition to 160,000 visitors from over 170 countries and more than 10,000 international investors.

The 2023 event hosted the unveiling of $18.3 billion in Saudi-based Real Estate projects - an outcome which earned plaudits from Lord Alan Sugar, the UK entrepreneur and host of the BBC’s The Apprentice, who was a conference speaker. "I was amazed by the vision, scale, and significance of the projects being undertaken in Saudi Arabia. It is inspiring," said Lord Sugar.

Cityscape Global is organized by Tahaluf, a strategic alliance between Informa PLC, SAFCSP, and the Events Investment Fund (EIF).