1,040 Saudi Firms Operating in Turkey

Merchants chat in front of a currency exchange office at the historical Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, January 12, 2017. (Reuters)
Merchants chat in front of a currency exchange office at the historical Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, January 12, 2017. (Reuters)
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1,040 Saudi Firms Operating in Turkey

Merchants chat in front of a currency exchange office at the historical Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, January 12, 2017. (Reuters)
Merchants chat in front of a currency exchange office at the historical Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, January 12, 2017. (Reuters)

A total number of 1,040 Saudi firms continue to operate in Turkey, with a trade exchange of USD8 billion between the two countries, according to Senior Turkish Adviser Dr. Mustafa Kokso.

The trade exchange target is USD20 billion after the diversification of the economic basket, Kokso told Asharq Al-Awsat, noting that Saudi Arabia and Turkey require new investment means that go in tandem with Saudi Vision 2030 and Turkish aspirations.

Kokso expressed Turkey’s interest in the Kingdom’s infrastructure, including airports and trains, and investment in economic buildings for low-income households, adding that the Saudi investments in Turkey take place through 1,040 firms.

Furthermore, economist Hadeel Abu al-Aoula listed some of the investment advantages resulting from trade exchanges, saying they consolidate the state’s economy and place it among the best investors and exporters globally.

Saudi Arabia placed seventh in 2017 among prime investing states in Turkey.

Abu al-Aoula stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Turkish-Saudi economic cooperation is passing through a phase of prosperity and mounting growth, opening new dimensions for further ambitious bilateral projects.

The economist added that the Kingdom is providing legal assistance for investors through assigning a number of lawyers in its embassy in Ankara or its consulate in Istanbul. It also supplies investors with any information that facilitates goal-oriented investment operations serving both countries.

Speaking about major Turkish industries that attract Saudis, Abu al-Aoula mentioned machines, food, minerals, consumer products and the fabric industry.



Gold Slips as US Bond Yields Rise, Investors Assess New Tariffs

Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
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Gold Slips as US Bond Yields Rise, Investors Assess New Tariffs

Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
Gold rings are displayed in a gold shop in Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

Gold prices eased on Tuesday, weighed by higher US Treasury yields as US President Donald Trump announced new tariff proposals on trading partners, including Japan and South Korea.

Spot gold was down 0.2% at $3,328.67 per ounce, as of 1207 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.1% to $3,338.20.

The yield on benchmark US 10-year notes rose to a two-week peak, making the non-yielding bullion less attractive.

"Gold is stuck between a rock and a hard place," said UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo, Reuters reported.

"Negative for the gold price is the US decision to extend the deadline for a trade deal for many trade partners, positive for the gold price is the fact that key US trading partners in Asia might have to deal with higher tariffs in the near future, weighing on economic growth prospects."

On Monday, Trump told 14 countries that sharply higher tariffs would start on August 1, marking a new phase in the trade war he launched in April, with levies between 25% and 40%.

The new deadline was firm, Trump said, adding that he would consider extensions if countries made proposals for a trade deal.

"Reciprocal tariffs" were to be capped at 10% until July 9 to allow for negotiations, but so far, agreements have been reached only with Britain and Vietnam. In June, Washington and Beijing agreed on a framework covering tariff rates.

Meanwhile, China has warned the Trump administration against reigniting trade tensions and threatened to retaliate against nations that strike deals with the US to exclude it from their supply chains.

Trump's tariffs have stoked inflation fears, further complicating the US Federal Reserve's path to lower interest rates.

Investors await minutes of the Fed's June meeting, due on Wednesday, for more clues into the bank's policy outlook.

Spot silver fell 0.1% to $36.71 per ounce, platinum rose 0.2% to $1,372.51, and palladium rose 0.6% to $1,117.33.