Saudi Arabia Launches Riyal Coins to Replace Banknotes

Saudi Riyal coins will be used in the future in a number of services and machinery, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Riyal coins will be used in the future in a number of services and machinery, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Launches Riyal Coins to Replace Banknotes

Saudi Riyal coins will be used in the future in a number of services and machinery, Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Riyal coins will be used in the future in a number of services and machinery, Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) will start withdrawing SR1 banknotes from the market from Thursday, SAMA has said.

In a statement, SAMA announced issuing its sixth edition, which was developed during the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz with great attention and diligence, using in-depth and detailed studies on world-renowned modern techniques for manufacturing coins.

SAMA adhered to prime technical standards and designs that ensure popularity among traders.

The one-riyal coin has a portrait of King Salman in silver in the center. On the right side, the name and title of the King (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud) are engraved in a golden frame, and on the left there is a plant motif encompassing the Kingdom’s national emblem.

According to plan, SAMA assured that paper currencies will still be traded alongside the new coins until all one riyal notes are gradually phased out across banks.

The SR1 banknotes will eventually be replaced with one-riyal coins.

In December 2016, SAMA unveiled the sixth issue of Saudi currency, including the new one-riyal and two-riyal coins, in addition to coins introduced as 50 halalah, 25 halalah, 10 halalah, 5 halalah and one halalah.

The currency will be used in the future in a number of services and machines, much like developed countries, which despite the development of monetary and financial systems, they still use currency widely, and the presence of the riyal or the main currency as a piece of metal is the usual practice in a lots of countries worldwide.

SAMA affirmed that all six categories of the currency issued are currently available at SAMA branches and banks operating in the Kingdom. If they are not easily obtained by the banks, a complaint can be made to the Customer Protection Department through SamaCares.com or by calling toll free 8001256666.



Oil Edges Up ahead of US Fed Rate Decision, 2025 Outlook

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Edges Up ahead of US Fed Rate Decision, 2025 Outlook

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil edged up on Wednesday as a drop in US crude inventories offered some support, although investors stayed cautious ahead of a potential interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve and its projections for 2025.

Brent futures rose 53 cents, or 0.7%, to $73.72 a barrel at 1436 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 54 cents, or 0.8%, to $70.62.

The Fed is expected to cut rates by a quarter point, but to signal a cautious approach to loosening monetary policy next year.

"A quarter-point cut itself is unlikely to shake markets much. Investors may focus more on hints and clues on how likely a January pause is, as well as on how many rate cuts policymakers are contemplating throughout 2025," said Charalampos Pissouros, senior investment analyst at brokerage XM, Reuters reported.

The US central bank will release its policy statement at 2 p.m. ET (1900 GMT), followed by remarks from Chair Jerome Powell.

Lower rates decrease borrowing costs, which can boost economic growth and demand for oil.

"Oil prices ought to see more of a reaction to the crude inventory draw seen in the API data overnight... however, such is the diverting power of central bank rate decisions that investors in all of the trading mediums are taking a very light touch to proceedings" said John Evans, analyst with oil broker PVM.

In the US, American Petroleum Institute data on Tuesday showed that crude stocks fell by 4.69 million barrels in the week ended Dec. 13, a source said. Gasoline inventories rose by 2.45 million barrels, and distillate stocks rose by 744,000 barrels, according to the source.

Analysts projected US energy firms pulled about 1.6 million barrels of crude from storage during the week ended Dec. 13, according to a Reuters poll on Tuesday.

The US Energy Information Administration will release its oil storage data on Wednesday.

"Trade war fears and uncertainty on how aggressively the US Fed will cut interest rates next year is likely capping the upside for now," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.