Profits of Industrial Investment Companies Jump 57% in Saudi Arabia

Profits of Industrial Investment Companies Jump 57% in Saudi Arabia
TT

Profits of Industrial Investment Companies Jump 57% in Saudi Arabia

Profits of Industrial Investment Companies Jump 57% in Saudi Arabia

Industrial investment companies, whose shares are listed in the Saudi exchange market, achieved a remarkable leap on the level of profits during the first half of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.

According to results, profits of industrial investment companies grew 57 percent while the accumulated profits of 16 listed companies reached around SAR1.46 billion (USD390 million).

Maaden achieved during the first half of the year profits of SAR1.15 billion (USD306.6 million); an 83 percent of growth compared to the same period in 2017.

A total number of 10 listed companies in the industrial investment sector reached a remarkable progress in the outcome of the first half of 2018, while profits of six other companies dropped.

A report by Qawaem in 2017 revealed that the growth included the revenues of refined oil products industry, chemical products industry, industry sector, education sector, fishing sector, medicines and pharmacies, health sector, food products sector, and the sector of media and publishing.

It is obligatory that all institutions of the private sector provide Qawaem with financial lists of 2017, within a determined period after the end of the fiscal year.

The Saudi economy has achieved a positive growth in the first quarter of the current year, which is a direct impact of the economic reforms' efficiency.

According to General Authority for Statistics, the domestic product of non-oil sector in Saudi Arabia achieved more positive growth averages during the first quarter of the current year, a growth of 1.6 percent, while the public non-oil sector growth reached around 2.7 percent during the same period.



Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
TT

Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold prices rose over 1% to hit a two-week peak on Friday, heading for the best weekly performance in more than a year, buoyed by safe-haven demand as Russia-Ukraine tensions intensified.

Spot gold jumped 1.3% to $2,703.05 per ounce as of 1245 GMT, hitting its highest since Nov. 8. US gold futures gained 1.1% to $2,705.30.

Bullion rose despite the US dollar hitting a 13-month high, while bitcoin hit a record peak and neared the $100,000 level.

"With both gold and USD (US dollar) rising, it seems that safe-haven demand is lifting both assets," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Ukraine's military said its drones struck four oil refineries, radar stations and other military installations in Russia, Reuters reported.

Gold has gained over 5% so far this week, its best weekly performance since October 2023. Prices have gained around $173 after slipping to a two-month low last week.

"We understand that the price setback has been used by 'Western world' investors under-allocated to gold to build exposure considering the geopolitical risks that are still around. So we continue to expect gold to rise further over the coming months," Staunovo said.

Bullion tends to shine during geopolitical tensions, economic risks, and a low interest rate environment. Markets are pricing in a 59.4% chance of a 25-basis-points cut at the Fed's December meeting, per the CME Fedwatch tool.

However, "if Fed skips or pauses its rate cut in December, that will be negative for gold prices and we could see some pullback," said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ.

The Chicago Federal Reserve president reiterated his support for further US interest rate cuts on Thursday.

On Friday, spot silver rose 1.8% to $31.34 per ounce, platinum eased 0.1% to $960.13 and palladium fell 0.6% to $1,023.55. All three metals were on track for a weekly rise.