LEAP 2026: Saudi Energy Signs Deals to Support Digital Infrastructure for Data, AI Centers

Saudi Energy has signed three strategic agreements to support digital infrastructure for data and artificial intelligence (AI) centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Saudi Energy has signed three strategic agreements to support digital infrastructure for data and artificial intelligence (AI) centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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LEAP 2026: Saudi Energy Signs Deals to Support Digital Infrastructure for Data, AI Centers

Saudi Energy has signed three strategic agreements to support digital infrastructure for data and artificial intelligence (AI) centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Saudi Energy has signed three strategic agreements to support digital infrastructure for data and artificial intelligence (AI) centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Energy has signed three strategic agreements to support digital infrastructure for data and artificial intelligence (AI) centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and meet their growing energy needs.

The agreements help establish reliable and resilient infrastructure capable of keeping pace with the rapid expansion of the digital economy and advanced technologies, said the Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Energy signed the agreements while participating as a strategic sponsor at LEAP 2026. The agreements build on its role in Saudi Arabia’s energy ecosystem and its efforts to prepare for future growth requirements. They also support partnerships that enable high-impact technology investments and projects in the Kingdom.

The first agreement, signed by National Grid SA and HUMAIN, covers the provision of electricity to the AI data centers project in Riyadh. It will support the project’s electrical infrastructure and meet its future energy requirements.

Saudi Electricity Project Development Company (PDC), a subsidiary of Saudi Energy, also signed a framework agreement with center3 to establish a strategic partnership in future data center and energy infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. The partnership aims to support the sector’s expansion and strengthen integration between energy and digital infrastructure.

PDC also signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei to enhance cooperation on data and AI center projects, digital infrastructure, and related energy solutions. The agreement also provides for the exchange of engineering and technical expertise and the development of future collaboration opportunities.

The three agreements reflect Saudi Energy’s efforts to prepare for tomorrow’s needs by developing energy infrastructure to support the growth of data and AI centers. They also enable the expansion of related projects and investments, helping position the Kingdom to sustain its digital and technological growth.



Hapag-Lloyd Raises Outlook for Third Time on Strong Freight Rates

Hapag-Lloyd containers at a loading terminal at the harbor in Hamburg, Germany, July 13, 2025. (Reuters)
Hapag-Lloyd containers at a loading terminal at the harbor in Hamburg, Germany, July 13, 2025. (Reuters)
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Hapag-Lloyd Raises Outlook for Third Time on Strong Freight Rates

Hapag-Lloyd containers at a loading terminal at the harbor in Hamburg, Germany, July 13, 2025. (Reuters)
Hapag-Lloyd containers at a loading terminal at the harbor in Hamburg, Germany, July 13, 2025. (Reuters)

German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd on Wednesday raised its full-year earnings outlook for the third time this year, citing strength in freight rates and a stronger-than-expected performance ‌in the ‌fourth quarter.

The stock was ‌up ⁠2.4% at 0925 ⁠GMT.

The upgrade adds to a series of positive outlook revisions across the European logistics sector, where resilient global trade, elevated shipping ⁠rates and persistent ‌supply-chain disruptions have ‌supported earnings and boosted profitability.

Hapag-Lloyd ‌now expects full-year earnings ‌before interest and tax of $2.0 billion to $2.4 billion, up from previous expectations of $1.25 billion to $1.75 ‌billion.

The company also lifted its 2026 earnings before ⁠interest, tax, ⁠depreciation and amortization guidance to $4.6 billion to $5.0 billion, from $3.9 billion to $4.4 billion previously.

The latest increase follows earlier upgrades in July and September, reflecting sustained strength in container shipping markets and management's improved expectations for year-end trading.


Gold Gains After Steep Drop, but Hawkish Central Bank Signals Weigh

People buy gold jewellery on the occasion of 'Dhanteras' as part of Diwali celebrations, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata on November 6, 2026. (AFP)
People buy gold jewellery on the occasion of 'Dhanteras' as part of Diwali celebrations, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata on November 6, 2026. (AFP)
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Gold Gains After Steep Drop, but Hawkish Central Bank Signals Weigh

People buy gold jewellery on the occasion of 'Dhanteras' as part of Diwali celebrations, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata on November 6, 2026. (AFP)
People buy gold jewellery on the occasion of 'Dhanteras' as part of Diwali celebrations, the Hindu festival of lights, in Kolkata on November 6, 2026. (AFP)

Gold prices climbed on Wednesday, but remained anchored near the $4,000 level after a sharp selloff in the previous session following a hot US inflation print and hawkish policymakers' comments that tilted market expectations towards further and larger ‌rate hikes.

Spot ‌gold rose 0.5% to $4,051.31 per ounce ‌by ⁠0916 GMT after dropping ⁠as much as 3% to $4,013.29 on Tuesday. US gold futures for December delivery gained 0.7% to $4,059 per ounce.

"Gold is seeing some slight relief after its post-CPI declines," said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Bybit.

"However, it's a tough ask for gold bulls to keep pushing prices higher, given ⁠the prospects of more Fed rate ‌hikes in the pipeline."

Data released on ‌Tuesday showed US consumer prices rose more than expected in ‌October, with the CPI increasing 0.4%. Economists polled by Reuters ‌had forecast a 0.3% rise.

Traders raised the odds of a December Federal Reserve rate hike to 100% from 84% before the data, as per CME's FedWatch tool. Expectations of a ‌larger, half-percentage-point hike also increased.

Ahead of the data, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said a core inflation ⁠reading ⁠of 0.3% in October would prompt him to consider a half-point hike at the December meeting.

Other policymakers also maintained a hawkish tone, with Fed Bank of Philadelphia President Anna Paulson signaling further US rate hikes and Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman reaffirming the central bank's focus on curbing price pressures.

Although gold is typically seen as an inflation hedge, higher interest rates diminish its appeal, as gold bullion pays no interest.

Among other metals, spot silver climbed 2.7% to $52.87 per ounce, and palladium gained 4.1% to $1,066.66 per ounce.


Oman Posts Third-Quarter Budget Surplus as Revenue Rises 16%

Visitors and locals gather at the Mutrah Corniche in Muscat, Oman, April 11, 2025. (AP)
Visitors and locals gather at the Mutrah Corniche in Muscat, Oman, April 11, 2025. (AP)
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Oman Posts Third-Quarter Budget Surplus as Revenue Rises 16%

Visitors and locals gather at the Mutrah Corniche in Muscat, Oman, April 11, 2025. (AP)
Visitors and locals gather at the Mutrah Corniche in Muscat, Oman, April 11, 2025. (AP)

Oman's ‌public revenue rose 16% by the end of the third quarter to 9.828 billion Omani rials ($25.53 billion), the Oman News Agency said in a post ‌on X on ‌Wednesday.

Public spending ‌rose ⁠9% to about ⁠9.74 billion rials, and the state budget recorded a surplus of about 90 million rials ⁠at the end of ‌the ‌third quarter.

Public debt ‌fell by more ‌than 600 million rials from a year earlier, to about 14.1 ‌billion rials from 14.7 billion.

Dues paid ⁠to ⁠the private sector and received through the financial system totaled more than 1.43 billion rials by the end of the third quarter.