Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover

Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover
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Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover

Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover

Bahrain’s dinar recovered against the American dollar in the spot markets during early trading on Wednesday, while Central Bank of Bahrain announced covering the most recent issuance of government treasury bills up to 129 percent.

The recovery of the Bahraini dinar came quick after the standpoint announced by Saudi Arabia with the participation of UAE and Kuwait to support economic reforms in Bahrain in which Saudi Arabia announced that it continues along with Kuwait and UAE talks with Bahrain to reinforce the financial conditions stability.

“The kingdom of Bahrain, along with its sisters Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, will announce a programme to support the stability of the financial situation in Bahrain,” Finance Minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa told the official BNA news agency.

Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait announced an economic program to support financial stability in Bahrain and the recovery of Bahraini dinar. A comprehensive program to back economic reforms and general finance stability in Bahrain is anticipated soon. Positive reactions were restricted to the progress of Bahraini dinar in which Bahrain bills recovered strongly.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan affirmed that Bahrain has started a package of financial and economic reforms, and will continue to carry out these reforms with the support of its sisters in the Gulf.

The stance announced by Saudi Arabia with the participation of UAE and Kuwait to support economic reforms in Bahrain falls under the Saudi fixed policy to stand with Bahrain no matter what challenges it faces.

Saudi Arabia’s support to Bahrain comes as a continuity to the kingdom’s policy to its sisters and allies in which Saudi Arabia has been the first economic and political backer to Bahrain throughout the history of both countries’ ties.



Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

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)
TT

Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

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 prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed firm winter fuel demand expectations against large US fuel inventories and macroeconomic concerns.

Brent crude futures were down 3 cents at $76.13 a barrel by 1003 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 10 cents to $73.22.

Both benchmarks fell more than 1% on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and a bigger than expected rise in US fuel stockpiles pressured prices.

"The oil market is still grappling with opposite forces - seasonal demand to support the bulls and macro data that supports a stronger US dollar in the medium term ... that can put a ceiling to prevent the bulls from advancing further," said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong.

JPMorgan analysts expect oil demand for January to expand by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) year on year to 101.4 million bpd, primarily driven by increased use of heating fuels in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Global oil demand is expected to remain strong throughout January, fuelled by colder than normal winter conditions that are boosting heating fuel consumption, as well as an earlier onset of travel activities in China for the Lunar New Year holidays," the analysts said.

The market structure in Brent futures is also indicating that traders are becoming more concerned about supply tightening at the same time demand is increasing.

The premium of the front-month Brent contract over the six-month contract reached its widest since August on Wednesday. A widening of this backwardation, when futures for prompt delivery are higher than for later delivery, typically indicates that supply is declining or demand is increasing.

Nevertheless, official Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed rising gasoline and distillates stockpiles in the United States last week.

The dollar strengthened further on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's entrance into the White House on Jan. 20.

Looking ahead, WTI crude oil is expected to oscillate within a range of $67.55 to $77.95 into February as the market awaits more clarity on Trump's administration policies and fresh fiscal stimulus measures out of China, OANDA's Wong said.