Gold Extends Gains to Scale One-week High as Crude Prices Ease

FILE PHOTO: A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewelry showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai, India, May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewelry showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai, India, May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo/File Photo
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Gold Extends Gains to Scale One-week High as Crude Prices Ease

FILE PHOTO: A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewelry showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai, India, May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A salesman arranges gold bangles inside a jewelry showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Mumbai, India, May 7, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo/File Photo

Gold rose for a second straight session on Friday, hitting a one-week high, as oil prices fell, while investors kept a close watch on developments in the Middle East conflict.

Spot gold was up 1.1% at $4,387.69 per ounce by 0829 GMT, and was on track for a weekly gain ‌of 1%.

US ‌gold futures rose 0.6% to $4,428.

Oil prices fell ‌for ⁠a third straight ⁠session, as easing concerns over supply disruptions outweighed anxiety about a widening Middle East conflict.

"The precious metal appears to have taken the Fed's hawkish signals in stride, instead finding immediate relief from falling oil prices amid hopes that the Fed's hiking cycle will prove shallow," said Han Tan, chief market analyst ⁠at Bybit.

Although gold is traditionally viewed as ‌a hedge against inflation, higher rates ‌can curb its demand by increasing the appeal of yield-bearing assets.

The ‌US Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday and flagged ‌more hikes in the coming months.

Goldman Sachs said in a note that it expects "the impact of tighter monetary policy to be felt primarily through a slower near-term appreciation path rather than a lower ‌terminal gold price."

Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a 31-year high and signaled ⁠its readiness ⁠to keep pushing up borrowing costs, joining other major central banks in fighting persistent inflation pressures.

"Looking ahead, the state of the conflict in the Middle East will be a key factor influencing gold prices. If the conflict prolongs and oil prices remain high well into next year, that could prompt central banks to raise rates more than investors expect, which would put downward pressure on gold prices," said Hamad Hussain, a climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics.

Spot silver rose 2.7% to $66.98, platinum gained 2.6% to $1,814.95 and palladium added 3.1% at $1,330.95. All metals were headed for a weekly gain.



Saudi Aramco Targets 80% Growth in Gas Sales by 2030

3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Saudi Aramco logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. (Reuters)
3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Saudi Aramco logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. (Reuters)
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Saudi Aramco Targets 80% Growth in Gas Sales by 2030

3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Saudi Aramco logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. (Reuters)
3D-printed oil pump jacks and the Saudi Aramco logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia is moving to expand its gas and liquefied gas production capabilities by developing facilities and infrastructure across the sector, amid growing demand for gas and its increasing role in the energy mix. Saudi Aramco aims to increase gas sales by 80 percent by 2030 compared with 2020 and 2021 levels.

Abdulkarim Al-Ghamdi, Executive Vice President of Gas at Saudi Aramco, disclosed the target during a panel discussion at the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh on Tuesday. He also revealed plans to build and commission six to seven gas and liquefied gas facilities between 2025 and 2027.

Al-Ghamdi said Saudi Arabia's oil production assets and export capabilities are spread across different parts of the Kingdom, strengthening its ability to respond to disruptions and unforeseen scenarios. He added that the country has an extensive gas network, including the Master Gas System, which stretches thousands of kilometers from east to west.

He explained that more than 90 percent of the materials Aramco needed during disruptions linked to global conflicts were sourced locally. The company also relies on partnerships across several assets and facilities, including refineries and pipeline networks.

According to Al-Ghamdi, resilience in the energy sector is not limited to responding to crises after they occur. It also involves anticipating potential disruptions, protecting assets, diversifying their geographic locations and ensuring they can continue operating under exceptional circumstances.

He added that Aramco relies on integrated operating systems, interconnected supply chains and advanced data analytics solutions to help protect facilities and reduce the risk of operational disruptions.


OPEC Raises 2027 Oil Demand View, Citing Need to Rebuild Stocks

FILE PHOTO: OPEC logo is seen in this illustration taken June 25, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: OPEC logo is seen in this illustration taken June 25, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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OPEC Raises 2027 Oil Demand View, Citing Need to Rebuild Stocks

FILE PHOTO: OPEC logo is seen in this illustration taken June 25, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: OPEC logo is seen in this illustration taken June 25, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

OPEC on Tuesday raised its forecast for world oil demand growth in 2027, citing the need for the world to rebuild inventories that have been depleted by the Iran war.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries also lowered its forecast for 2026 oil demand growth, the report on OPEC's website showed, marking the sixth straight downward revision.

OPEC also reported a jump in oil production by the wider OPEC+ producer group in September.

The top OPEC producer told OPEC that it pumped 8.372 million barrels per day of crude in September, up more than 2 million bpd from August.


Riyadh to Add 94 New Trains to Boost Transport Capacity

A Riyadh Metro train travels through the Saudi capital. (SPA)
A Riyadh Metro train travels through the Saudi capital. (SPA)
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Riyadh to Add 94 New Trains to Boost Transport Capacity

A Riyadh Metro train travels through the Saudi capital. (SPA)
A Riyadh Metro train travels through the Saudi capital. (SPA)

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has signed contracts to procure and manufacture 94 new trains for the capital’s metro network, increasing its fleet to 277 from 183, with deliveries scheduled to begin in batches in 2028.

The new trains are expected to boost the network’s overall passenger capacity by 57%, with increases varying by line: 142% on the red line, 116% on the yellow line, 57% on the blue line, 27% on the orange line and 16% on the purple line. Additional capacity will be allocated according to ridership and projected demand.

The expansion comes as the Riyadh Metro has recorded about 275 million passenger trips since December 2024. Average monthly ridership in 2026 has risen by around 25% compared with the same period in 2025.

The investment is intended to accommodate anticipated growth in travel demand as Riyadh expands and prepares to host major international events, including Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Germany’s Siemens and France’s Alstom are carrying out the contracts, which are worth more than $5 billion in total and cover train manufacturing, systems and equipment, maintenance, training and other technical and operational services.

The trains will be delivered in stages as manufacturing is completed, then undergo testing and operational trials before gradually entering service.

The investment is part of broader efforts to develop Riyadh’s transport infrastructure, including public transit, roads and intersections, to meet the needs of the capital’s growing population and urban expansion.