$266 Mln Deal Boosts Liquidity in Saudi Housing Market

One of the projects under the Sakani program in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the projects under the Sakani program in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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$266 Mln Deal Boosts Liquidity in Saudi Housing Market

One of the projects under the Sakani program in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the projects under the Sakani program in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company (SRC), owned by the Public Investment Fund, has signed a SAR 1 billion ($266.7 million) agreement with Bidaya Finance to buy a mortgage portfolio.
The deal is the largest of its kind, aimed at injecting liquidity into Saudi Arabia’s housing market.
The agreement, signed on Sunday, was attended by Housing Minister Majed Al-Hogail, who also chairs SRC, and Abdulaziz Al-Omair, Chairman of Bidaya Finance.
This move supports SRC’s efforts to grow the mortgage market and expand refinancing options, aligning with Vision 2030’s goal of increasing homeownership among Saudi citizens.
SRC CEO Majeed Al Abduljabbar said the deal will boost liquidity and stabilize the housing finance market, helping more Saudis own homes. He added that it builds on SRC’s plan to partner with key lenders and develop a strong secondary mortgage market.
“This agreement is a pivotal step toward achieving the strategic objectives of the Housing Program by increasing homeownership among citizens,” Abduljabbar noted.
“It also aligns with our strategy to forge strategic partnerships with leading financing institutions, fostering the development of an active secondary market for residential mortgages,” he added.
Bidaya Finance CEO Mahmoud Dahduli called the agreement a step forward in offering innovative financing solutions, enabling more citizens to achieve their housing goals and contributing to Vision 2030’s housing targets.
“This strategic collaboration with SRC reinforces our shared role in offering reliable, innovative financing solutions that empower citizens to realize their housing aspirations, aligning with the Housing Program’s goal of increasing homeownership,” Dahduli said.
Established in 2017 by the Public Investment Fund, SRC aims to make home financing more accessible by providing liquidity to lenders and supporting Saudi Arabia’s housing sector under the national transformation plan, Vision 2030.



Oil Extends Climb on Supply Fears, Trade War Concerns Cap Gains

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Extends Climb on Supply Fears, Trade War Concerns Cap Gains

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices inched higher on Tuesday after threats by US President Donald Trump to impose secondary tariffs on Russian crude and attack Iran, though worries about the impact of a trade war on global growth capped gains.

Brent futures rose 21 cents, or 0.3%, to $74.98 a barrel at 0645 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 22 cents, or 0.3%, to $71.70.

The contracts settled at five-week highs a day earlier.

"Near-term risks are skewed to the upside, with US threats of secondary tariffs on Russian and Iranian oil leading market participants to price for the risks of tighter oil supplies," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG, Reuters reported.

However, broader themes still revolve around concerns of upcoming tariffs weighing on global demand, along with prospects of increased supply from OPEC+ and the US, said Yeap.

A Reuters poll of 49 economists and analysts in March projected that oil prices would remain under pressure this year from US tariffs and economic slowdowns in India and China, while OPEC+ increases supply.

Slower global growth would dent fuel demand, which might offset any reduction in supply due to Trump's threats.

After news of Trump's threats initially boosted prices on Monday, traders told Reuters they viewed the president's warnings to Russia, at least, as a bluff.

Trump, on Sunday, told NBC News that he was very angry with Russian President Vladimir Putin and would impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on Russian oil buyers if Moscow tries to block efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Tariffs on buyers of oil from Russia, the world's second largest oil exporter, would disrupt global supply and hurt Moscow's biggest customers, China and India.

Trump also threatened Iran with similar tariffs and bombings if Tehran did not reach an agreement with the White House over its nuclear program.

"For now, it appears to be just a threat to Russia and Iran. However, if it becomes a reality, it creates plenty of upside risk to the market given the significant oil export volumes from both countries," said ING commodities strategists on Tuesday.

The market will be watching for weekly inventory data from US industry group the American Petroleum Institute later on Tuesday, ahead of official statistics from the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.

Five analysts surveyed by Reuters estimated on average that US crude inventories fell by about 2.1 million barrels in the week to March 28.