Stocks Rally Falters, Oil Rises as US-Iran Talks Postponed

The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, June 18, 2026.  REUTERS/staff
The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, June 18, 2026. REUTERS/staff
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Stocks Rally Falters, Oil Rises as US-Iran Talks Postponed

The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, June 18, 2026.  REUTERS/staff
The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, June 18, 2026. REUTERS/staff

Stock markets were mixed on Friday and oil prices rose after Switzerland said planned talks following up on the US-Iran agreement had been postponed, dealing a blow to the week-long rally.

Equities have been on a tear since the two announced last weekend that they would end their three-month conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, fueling global relief as economies have been hit by energy shortages and surging inflation.

The agreement has been signed separately by US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, and approved by Iran's supreme leader.

That was meant to signal the beginning of 60 days of talks on wider issues, including Tehran's nuclear program.

But Swiss officials said they would not start on Friday as expected, hours after US Vice President JD Vance's departure for the country was cancelled, with a spokesperson saying the "logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable".

The deal was also meant to halt the fighting in Lebanon, but Israel's military announced new strikes against Hezbollah targets in the nation's south. Lebanon has been a major sticking point in reaching a US-Iran deal.

"The planned talks between the US, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan have been postponed," the Swiss foreign ministry said in a message to AFP.

"Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks. The relevant preparatory work at Burgenstock is continuing," it said, without providing a new date for the talks.

Iran's Tasnim news agency had said "nothing has been confirmed" about the Tehran delegation's trip to Switzerland.

The news sparked a reverse in several equity markets that had been heading for a positive end, with profit-taking adding to the selling.

Seoul, which has hit multiple records this week and topped 9,000 points for the first time on Thursday, ended in the red after a strong start to the day led by tech firms.

There were also losses in Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta but Tokyo, Wellington and Manila edged up.

London dipped at the open but Paris and Frankfurt rose.

Oil prices, which have tanked around 10 percent this week, climbed with West Texas Intermediate up around 1.8 percent.

"With the deal signed, that geopolitical cloud is lifting, but markets have learned more than once that a resolution can unravel quickly," Josh Gilbert, at eToro, said.

"The hard work starts now, and investors will likely be cautious until we've got an air-tight deal and traffic genuinely flowing in full through the strait again."

American forces lifted on Thursday their naval blockade of Iranian ports that had prevented ships from sailing to or from the Iranian republic, the US military said, noting that its warships "will remain in the general area".

Activity was still muted in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic bottleneck for energy shipments that Iran blockaded during the conflict.

Observers have pointed out that while the waterway -- through which about a fifth of crude passes -- has reopened, it could take some time before supplies are back up to pre-war levels.

The US-Iran agreement had allowed investors to look past Tuesday's Federal Reserve meeting, which ended with officials indicating they could hike interest rates before the end of the year owing to elevated inflation caused by the war.

Still, Forex.com's Fawad Razaqzada said traders would turn their focus back to the economic outlook.

"What is almost certain to happen now is that markets will become increasingly data-dependent once again. For now, equity bulls maintain some control," he wrote in a commentary.

"However, with valuations still elevated and a lack of obvious near-term catalysts, the prospect of profit-taking or a modest correction has become more plausible following the Fed's hawkish pivot."

The yen strengthened but remained above 161 per dollar -- and near its weakest level since 1986 -- after this week's jump fueled by Fed rate hike expectations.

The yen's gains were also helped by comments from Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, who warned of "bold action against excessive speculative moves in the foreign-exchange market".

The government spent around 11.7 trillion yen ($72 billion) last month propping up the currency by intervening in financial markets.

The currency was still in trouble despite the Bank of Japan's decision to hike interest rates on Tuesday to their highest since 1995.



Saudi Arabia and Serbia Expand Partnership in Energy, Technology and Trade

Serbian Foreign Minister and Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister sign an agreement waiving visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports. (X)
Serbian Foreign Minister and Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister sign an agreement waiving visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports. (X)
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Saudi Arabia and Serbia Expand Partnership in Energy, Technology and Trade

Serbian Foreign Minister and Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister sign an agreement waiving visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports. (X)
Serbian Foreign Minister and Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister sign an agreement waiving visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports. (X)

Saudi-Serbian relations are moving toward a new phase of economic and diplomatic cooperation, as Riyadh and Belgrade work to expand their partnership in the energy, technology, agriculture and food industries sectors, alongside rapid growth in trade between the two countries. This comes as the hosting of EXPO 2027 in Belgrade and EXPO 2030 in Riyadh by Serbia and Saudi Arabia, respectively, opens additional avenues for exchanging expertise and building new partnerships and projects.

A meeting held last week in Belgrade between Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed A. M. Elkhereiji and Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Đurić saw the signing of an agreement to cancel visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports, in a step expected to support official contacts and strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides discussed ways to develop cooperation in the energy sector through joint projects, as well as in information and communications technology, advanced technologies, agriculture and the food industry. They also discussed strengthening the presence of Serbian companies in the Saudi market and increasing investment by Saudi partners in Serbia. Serbia is scheduled to participate in the Saudi Food exhibition in Jeddah later this month with more than 50 companies.

Three new initiatives for cooperation between the two countries were also launched during the meeting: "Digital Non-Aligned," the Film Festival of the Non-Aligned Movement, and an international seminar for young diplomats from member states of the movement. The initiatives are part of commemorations marking the 65th anniversary of the First Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, which was hosted by Belgrade in 1961.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of a gathering marking the anniversary. Saudi Arabia was among the countries that participated in the founding conference and was represented at the time by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel, who planted the first "tree of peace."

Bizenic: Riyadh Is an Important Economic Partner

Serbian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dragan Bizenic told Asharq Al-Awsat that last Wednesday's meeting gave the Serbian foreign minister an opportunity to once again thank the relevant Saudi institutions for their "exceptional cooperation and support" during the evacuation of Serbian citizens from Riyadh following the recent events in the Middle East.

Bizenic affirmed his country's commitment to deepening comprehensive cooperation with Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on the economic side. He said he was impressed by the results achieved by the Kingdom under Vision 2030, which he saw during his visit to Riyadh to participate in the Future Investment Initiative conference last year.

According to the Serbian foreign minister, Belgrade is interested in strengthening trade cooperation with Saudi Arabia, increasing exports of Serbian products, and benefiting from the expertise and knowledge of Saudi experts in the fields of science and technology. The two sides also discussed expanding partnership and cooperation through EXPO, in addition to increasing the volume of trade and mutual investments.

EXPO: A New Bridge for Partnership

Bizenic considers Saudi-Serbian cooperation through EXPO 2027 and EXPO 2030 to be a highly important area for deepening relations between the two countries, pointing to the meeting between Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Minister of Foreign Trade, Mrs. Jagodom Lazarevic, who is also the commissioner of the EXPO 2027 exhibition in Belgrade.

He explained that Belgrade and Riyadh hosting two world expos in the coming years, EXPO 2027 Belgrade and EXPO 2030 Riyadh, represents a unique opportunity to turn the experience, knowledge and networks the two countries will gain through these events into new forms of cooperation and concrete projects.

He revealed that Saudi Arabia has already signed a contract to participate in EXPO 2027 Belgrade and will have one of the largest national pavilions at the exhibition, in a prominent location at the entrance to the EXPO area. He said the pavilion will provide the Kingdom with an opportunity to showcase its development potential, innovations, culture and business opportunities, as well as promote EXPO 2030 Riyadh.

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister during his meeting with Serbian Minister of Internal and External Trade Jagoda Lazarević (X)

Trade Surges 152%

Bizenic noted that the Serbian foreign minister affirmed during his Wednesday meeting in Belgrade with Elkhereiji that Saudi Arabia could be "one of Serbia's key economic and political partners in the Arab world," given its membership in the Group of Twenty and OPEC+, as well as its weight in global energy markets. Saudi Arabia holds about 16 percent of the world's oil reserves.

The ambassador believes that strengthening Saudi-Serbian relations, opening the way for more investments and business projects, and expanding contacts between the business communities of the two countries would bring significant benefits to Serbia and support its economic presence in the region.

As an indicator of the growing economic ties, Bizenic said trade between Serbia and Saudi Arabia has recorded significant growth in recent years, reaching $121 million at the end of 2025, nine times its 2012 level. Trade continued to grow this year, reaching $130.4 million in the first half of 2026, an increase of 152 percent compared with the same period last year.


Data Centers Open New Avenue for Localizing Saudi Cooling Industry

Nabil Shahin discusses standards developed by the US-based Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). (LinkedIn) 
Nabil Shahin discusses standards developed by the US-based Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). (LinkedIn) 
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Data Centers Open New Avenue for Localizing Saudi Cooling Industry

Nabil Shahin discusses standards developed by the US-based Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). (LinkedIn) 
Nabil Shahin discusses standards developed by the US-based Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). (LinkedIn) 

From buildings and megaprojects to data centers, demand for air-conditioning and cooling solutions is expanding across Saudi Arabia, driven by rapid construction and accelerating investment in digital infrastructure.

As artificial intelligence and cloud computing enter a period of rapid expansion, data centers are emerging as a new growth driver for the cooling industry, requiring advanced levels of efficiency and reliability and equipment capable of operating under harsh climatic conditions.

The boom extends beyond Saudi Arabia. Globally, the cooling industry is expanding as temperatures rise and demand for data centers grows. The International Energy Agency estimates that global electricity demand for building cooling has risen by about 50% since 2015 to around 2,900 terawatt-hours, while worldwide air-conditioner shipments reached about 200 million units in 2024.

Cooling buildings is placing increasing pressure on power grids, particularly during heat waves, while data centers and AI are adding another layer of demand for advanced cooling technologies.

Global data-center electricity consumption stood at around 415 TWh in 2024 and is projected to reach about 945 TWh by 2030, with cooling and environmental-control systems accounting for a significant share of energy use at these facilities.

The growth comes amid mounting pressure to improve air-conditioning efficiency and reduce its environmental impact. According to the UN Environment Program, global cooling demand could more than triple from current levels by 2050 under existing policies, making equipment efficiency and less energy-intensive technologies increasingly important.

These shifts offer Saudi Arabia an opportunity to expand its domestic air-conditioning and cooling manufacturing base as the Kingdom seeks to increase local content and meet more of its market needs through domestic production.

Nabil Shahin, managing director of the Middle East and North Africa office of the US-based Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia accounts for more than half of the Gulf air-conditioning market. He attributed the market’s growth to expanding commercial and construction projects, alongside the boom in data centers.

Data Centers Reshape Cooling Market

The Kingdom is experiencing a “growth boom” in data centers, according to the AHRI executive, fueled by the rapid spread of AI and rising demand for cloud-computing services. He noted that several US and European companies are developing data-center projects in Saudi Arabia.

As their cooling requirements increase, AHRI is working with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) to develop and modify standards for data-center equipment to reflect the Kingdom’s temperatures, climatic conditions and local requirements.

Saudi Standard for Evaporative Coolers

Shahin noted that SASO had asked AHRI to develop a new standard for evaporative cooling systems, locally known as “desert coolers,” which use water in the cooling process rather than the refrigerants used in conventional air-conditioning systems.

There is currently no unified global standard for such systems, he explained. AHRI is developing the standard for submission to SASO, with the aim of providing a reference for manufacturers in the Saudi market.

The new standard will include energy-efficiency measurement criteria to assess equipment performance and suitability for local conditions.

Improving air-conditioning efficiency is particularly important in Saudi Arabia because of the sector’s high electricity consumption. More efficient systems could reduce power demand and emissions associated with electricity generation.

Saudi Arabia Leads Gulf Market

The AHRI executive estimated Saudi Arabia’s share of the Gulf air-conditioning market at more than 50%, with demand continuing to rise alongside commercial and construction projects, particularly in Riyadh, coastal areas and Makkah.

Some estimates put the Kingdom’s share at about 60%, he noted, but he prefers the more conservative figure of over 50% because no verified official data precisely establish its market share.

The scale of demand has made Saudi Arabia attractive to international companies, several of which have expanded their presence over the past two years by establishing new factories or enlarging existing facilities.

Local manufacturing can give companies an additional advantage by reducing some import costs, which can range from 5% to 12%, according to Shahin. He pointed to three large domestic factories that are expanding their operations.

From Assembly to Component Manufacturing

Localization, however, still faces the challenge of dependence on imported components. Most key air-conditioning components — including electric motors, compressors, copper and refrigerants — continue to come from abroad.

Much of Saudi Arabia’s current manufacturing activity remains focused on assembly, although some components, including heat exchangers, are produced domestically.

The next step, the AHRI official argued, is to move gradually from assembly toward manufacturing a greater proportion of air-conditioning components in the Kingdom, including electronics, circuit boards and electric motors.

He called for additional government incentives and support, including land, industrial space, free zones and investment facilities, to help Saudi factories expand and increase the share of locally manufactured components.

 

 


Gold Slips on Rate-Hike Bets; Inflation Data in Focus

Gold jewelry is displayed at an exhibition in Kabul, Afghanistan, 03 September 2026. (EPA)
Gold jewelry is displayed at an exhibition in Kabul, Afghanistan, 03 September 2026. (EPA)
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Gold Slips on Rate-Hike Bets; Inflation Data in Focus

Gold jewelry is displayed at an exhibition in Kabul, Afghanistan, 03 September 2026. (EPA)
Gold jewelry is displayed at an exhibition in Kabul, Afghanistan, 03 September 2026. (EPA)

Gold slipped on Monday as strong US jobs data reinforced expectations for higher interest rates, while investors awaited key US inflation reports due later this week for further clarity on the Federal Reserve's policy path.

Spot gold was down 0.6% at $4,402.86 per ounce, as of 0420 GMT, after falling 1% on Friday.

US gold futures for December delivery were down 0.6% at $4,447.60.

Data ‌on Friday ‌showed US job growth accelerated sharply in August ‌while ⁠the unemployment rate ⁠held steady at 4.1%, suggesting an improvement in the labor market after recent struggles and keeping a rate increase this month on the table.

US producer price index (PPI) data is due on Thursday, followed by consumer price index (CPI) data on Friday.

"The jobs number delivered a clear upside surprise and put some pressure ⁠on the metal, but it wasn't a ‌complete slam dunk for a September ‌rate hike. The real missing piece of the puzzle arrives this ‌week with U.S. CPI," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst ‌at KCM Trade.

"A strong inflation print would reinforce expectations of a Fed hike, lift yields further and weigh more heavily on gold."

Traders are pricing in a 58.4% chance of a rate hike ‌at the Fed's September 15-16 meeting, CME's FedWatch tool showed.

While gold is typically viewed as ⁠an inflation ⁠hedge, higher interest rates tend to weigh on the appeal of non-yielding bullion.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that unless the Fed cuts interest rates, he would stop trading with countries with which the United States had a deficit.

On the Middle East front, Iran said it will step up efforts to tackle problems created by US sanctions that are crippling its economy, while a senior Iranian official warned of a "painful response" if it comes under further attack.

Among other metals, spot silver eased 0.6% to $65.80 per ounce, platinum lost 1.1% to $1,800.59 and palladium declined 0.5% to $1,394.00.