Over 49,000 Loans Via Sakani in Six Months

Real Estate Development Fund (REDF)
Real Estate Development Fund (REDF)
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Over 49,000 Loans Via Sakani in Six Months

Real Estate Development Fund (REDF)
Real Estate Development Fund (REDF)

The Saudi Real Estate Development Fund (REDF) revealed that the total number of mortgage loans announced by Sakani Program during the past six months reached 49,800 backed by the fund in partnership with banks and financial institutions. These loans represent 39 percent of total housing and funding options announced by Sakani program on a monthly basis – in addition to loans, they include prefabricated units, under construction units and free lands.

REDF added that this number of mortgage loans is half Sakani's target in its second phase of 2018 -- the target total of loans until December is 100,000 for those on the waiting list at Real Estate Development Fund. It added that during the past year it announced 85,000 mortgage loans distributed around the kingdom.

Within the program, Riyadh has the greatest percentage of mortgage loans, reaching around 28 percent, followed by Makkah, with 16 percent. The remaining percentage was distributed over the other regions.

REDF spokesman Hamoud Al-Osaimi said the fund, in partnership with financial institutions, continues to provide services to beneficiaries whose names were announced during recent batches of Sakani.

Thousands of citizens have completed their applications and been approved for mortgage loans, he added, stressing the fund’s aim to help citizens get housing that suits them.

The ministry and the fund urged citizens to visit the sakani.housing.sa portal for a list of people allocated housing this month, and to visit the portal eskan.gov.sa and the REDF portal redf.gov.sa to complete the necessary procedures, update data and approve products.



Oil Prices Set for Second Annual Loss in a Row, Stable Day on Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Oil Prices Set for Second Annual Loss in a Row, Stable Day on Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Oil prices were on track to end 2024 with a second consecutive year of losses on Tuesday, but were steady on the day as data showing an expansion in Chinese manufacturing was balanced by Nigeria targeting higher output next year.

Brent crude futures fell by 7 cents, or 0.09%, to $73.92 a barrel as of 1306 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude lost 4 cents, or 0.06%, to $70.95 a barrel.

At those levels, Brent was down around 4% from its final 2023 close price of $77.04, while WTI was down around 1% from where it settled on Dec. 29 last year at $71.65.

In September, Brent futures closed below $70 a barrel for the first time since December 2021, while their highest closing price of 2024 at $91.17 was also the lowest since 2021, as the impacts of a post-pandemic rebound in demand and price shocks from Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine began to fade.

According to Reuters, oil prices are likely to be constrained near $70 a barrel in 2025 as weak demand from China and rising global supplies are expected to cast a shadow on OPEC+-led efforts to shore up the market, a Reuters monthly poll showed on Tuesday.

A weaker demand outlook in China in particular forced both the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) to cut their oil demand growth expectations for 2024 and 2025.

With non-OPEC supply also set to rise, the IEA sees the oil market going into 2025 in a state of surplus, even after OPEC and its allies delayed their plan to start raising output until April 2025 against a backdrop of falling prices.

Investors will also be watching the Federal Reserve's rate cut outlook for 2025 after central bank policymakers earlier this month projected a slower path due to stubbornly high inflation.

Lower interest rates generally incentivise borrowing and fuel growth, which in turn is expected to boost oil demand.

Markets are also gearing up for US President-elect Donald Trump's policies around looser regulation, tax cuts, tariff hikes and tighter immigration, as well as potential geopolitical shifts from Trump's calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as the possible re-imposition of the so-called "maximum pressure" policy towards Iran.

Prices were supported on Tuesday by data showing China's manufacturing activity expanded for a third straight month in December but at a slower pace, suggesting a blitz of fresh stimulus is helping to support the world's second-largest economy.

However, that was balanced out by potential for higher supply next year, as Nigeria said it is targeting national production of 3 million barrels per day (bpd) next year, up from its current level of around 1.8 million bpd.