DMDF 2024 Explores Dynamics of Saudi Financial Market

The Debt Markets and Financial Derivatives Forum (DMDF 2024), set to launch on Sunday in Riyadh, will focus on key principles aimed at exploring the dynamics of the Saudi financial market.
Organized by the Financial Academy, the forum will be held under the patronage of Mohammed El-Kuwaiz, Chairman of the Capital Market Authority and the Board of Trustees of the Financial Academy, with the participation of industry leaders, experts, and specialists from the financial securities sector.
The forum will examine emerging trends and insights from experts and CEOs in the financial sector, contributing to the mission of the Financial Academy, which aims to leverage its resources to provide high-level specialized services that align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Mana bin Mohammed Al-Khamsan, CEO of the Financial Academy, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the forum comes in parallel with the Kingdom’s ongoing advancements, driven by Vision 2030, which seeks to achieve exceptional results across all areas, particularly the economic sector, a cornerstone of the country’s development.
Key Focus Areas
According to Al-Khamsan, the forum will address several major topics in the financial sector, including strategic partnerships with local and international exchanges, such as collaborations with the Saudi Tadawul Group and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. It will also include partnerships with renowned international organizations like the CFA Institute and the International Capital Market Association (ICMA).
He added that a central focus will be on the debt and derivatives markets, which are expected to experience significant growth in the near future due to recent legal and regulatory reforms. These markets will play a crucial role in diversifying financing sources and improving liquidity.
The CEO of the Financial Academy also noted that the debt and derivatives markets in Saudi Arabia are experiencing rapid growth, and are expected to play a vital role in expanding funding sources and enhancing liquidity over the next few years.
Additionally, the official anticipated a rise in foreign investments in the Saudi financial market due to an improved regulatory environment and increased confidence among international investors.
Future Outlook
According to Al-Khamsan, the forum will shed light on these transformations through panel discussions and dialogues centered on future trends and challenges facing these markets. It will also present innovative solutions to keep pace with global financial market developments.
The forum aims to deliver measurable outcomes by tracking the impact of the Financial Academy’s initiatives on career development within the sector and fostering the principles of continuous professional training across the Kingdom’s financial industry, he underlined.
Al-Khamsan continued that the forum seeks to raise awareness and facilitate the exchange of expertise on modern financial instruments and risk management, while solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading investment destination regionally and globally. This will be achieved through collaboration with prestigious local and international entities such as the Saudi Tadawul Group, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and the CFA Institute.

Iran's crude export loadings have fallen sharply, according to observed and estimated tanker loadings, as Tehran braces for a potential strike on the country's key oil infrastructure as part of an Israeli retaliation that could impact Middle Eastern oil supplies.

Iran's last crude export cargo was estimated to have loaded on Oct. 4 with only one other cargo seen since Sept. 29, when the geopolitical conflict between Iran and Israel escalated, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea.

Although many Iranian crude exports are shipped in 'dark' tankers not transmitting GPS location signals, CAS estimates that Iran's crude exports slumped to 237,000 b/d in the week to Oct. 6, the lowest weekly total in at least two years.

Iran normally ships 7-10 crude cargoes each week with export flows averaging 1.7 million b/d so far this year, up from 1.1 million b/d in 2022, according to the data.

The export slowdown from Iran comes after satellite images circulated on social media Oct. 3 appearing to show tankers leaving Kharg Island, Iran's top crude terminal which handles about 90% of its exports. Traders speculated that Iran was keen to move unladen tankers away from their anchorages at Kharg Island to avoid damage from a potential Israeli strike. Exports from Kharg Island may have now resumed, however, with a 657,000-barrel cargo of Iranian crude lifted there on Oct 4, the CAS data shows.

Fears of a major escalation in the conflict hitting regional oil supplies were sparked by US President Joe Biden on Oct. 3 when he said the US was discussing potential attacks on Iranian oil facilities with Israel. Iran's military head responded saying Tehran would hit back harder at Israel with a "stronger response," if attacked.

DMDF 2024 Explores Dynamics of Saudi Financial Market