Gold Prices Ease from Two-week High as Dollar Edges Higher

A woman picks a gold earring at a jewellery shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/ File Photo
A woman picks a gold earring at a jewellery shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/ File Photo
TT

Gold Prices Ease from Two-week High as Dollar Edges Higher

A woman picks a gold earring at a jewellery shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/ File Photo
A woman picks a gold earring at a jewellery shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/ File Photo

Gold slipped on Thursday after hitting a nearly two-week high earlier in the session, hurt by an uptick in the dollar, although worries over the US government's increasing debt burden and fiscal outlook kept prices above $3,300 level.

Spot gold was down 0.3% at $3,303.82 an ounce, as of 1020 GMT, after hitting its highest level since May 9 earlier in the session.

US gold futures fell 0.3% to $3,304.10.

"Selling coming in especially from those looking to book profits and a degree of recovery in the dollar seems to have taken some of the shine off gold," Ross Norman, an independent analyst said, according to Reuters.

The dollar index edged up 0.2% against its rivals, making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for other currency holders.

"There are concerns about the way the US is managing its debt issue and one would expect gold to remain relatively firm if the markets take these tax cuts in a negative way," Norman said.

Moody's cut the United States' top sovereign credit rating by one notch last week, citing concerns about its growing $36 trillion debt pile.

US Treasury Department's $16 billion sale of 20-year bonds met soft demand from investors on Wednesday, weighing on risk sentiment among investors in the Wall Street.

Market participants also worried that the US government debt would swell by trillions of dollars if Congress passes President Donald Trump's proposed tax-cut bill.

Gold is often used as a safe store of value during times of political and financial uncertainty.

The dollar index hovered near two-week low, making the bullion more attractive for other currency holders.

Trump's sweeping tax and spending bill cleared a crucial hurdle on Thursday, as the House of Representatives voted roughly along party lines to begin a debate that should lead to a vote on passage later in the morning.

Elsewhere, spot silver fell 0.7% to $33.14 an ounce, platinum dropped 0.7% to $1,068.97 and palladium lost 2% to $1,015.97.



Saudi Arabia Signs New Port Contracts Worth Over $586 Million

Acting President of Mawani Mazen Al-Turki (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
Acting President of Mawani Mazen Al-Turki (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
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Saudi Arabia Signs New Port Contracts Worth Over $586 Million

Acting President of Mawani Mazen Al-Turki (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
Acting President of Mawani Mazen Al-Turki (Asharq Al-Awsat) 

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Ports (Mawani) has signed a series of new build-operate-transfer (BOT) contracts worth more than SAR 2.2 billion ($586.6 million) to develop multi-purpose cargo terminals at eight of the Kingdom’s ports.

Acting President of Mawani, Mazen Al-Turki, announced the deals during a signing ceremony held on Monday, describing the move as another milestone in Saudi Arabia’s continued infrastructure development under government leadership.

These 20-year contracts are part of a strategic public-private partnership, bringing together local and international investors to enhance operational capabilities and increase the handling capacity of Saudi ports. The initiative aligns with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which seeks to position the Kingdom as a global logistics hub.

Al-Turki emphasized that these new agreements build upon previous privatization deals, including the development of container terminals at Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, with investments exceeding SAR 16 billion. The Authority has also signed agreements to develop 20 logistics zones across the country, backed by over SAR 10 billion in investments.

He added that the latest contracts reflect the significant transformation and strategic evolution of Saudi Arabia’s ports, contributing to improved international performance indicators and reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as a key player in the global maritime industry.

Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of Mawani, Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, noted that the growing flow of private-sector investment demonstrates the attractiveness of Saudi ports and the logistics sector. He highlighted recent advancements in operational efficiency and maritime connectivity, supported by major global and national companies.

Al-Jasser affirmed that the Kingdom’s transport ecosystem will continue expanding its partnerships with the private sector across all regions and domains, with the new contracts marking the continuation of strategic collaborations with leading global and local port operators.

Under the newly signed contracts, the Saudi Global Ports Company will develop, manage, and operate multi-purpose terminals at east coast ports, including King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Jubail Commercial Port, King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail, and Ras Al Khair Port.

Meanwhile, Red Sea Gateway Terminal will handle similar operations on the west coast, covering Jeddah Islamic Port, Yanbu Commercial Port, King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu, and Jazan Port.

At King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu, the agreements include modernizing cargo handling with state-of-the-art STS and RTG cranes, reach stackers, trucks, and trailers, aimed at reducing truck turnaround times, vessel berthing durations, and boosting overall efficiency.