King Abdullah Economic City Awards Over $300 Mln Contracts

Part of King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah. (File photo / AFP)
Part of King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah. (File photo / AFP)
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King Abdullah Economic City Awards Over $300 Mln Contracts

Part of King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah. (File photo / AFP)
Part of King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah. (File photo / AFP)

King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) has awarded new contracts worth over SAR1.2 billion (USD320 million) for the construction and development of several sectors in the city during the year 2018.

KAEC acting Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Bin Ibrahim Linjawy said that 20 percent of the value of the contracts was for the development of the industrial valley, residential areas and facilities. About 80 percent of the value of the contract was for the development of a range of projects, services, and products in a number of areas, notably the tourism sector, entertainment, and sports. He said the development plans for the city are continuing so as to develop strategic sectors, like the logistics and industrial sectors.

Linjawy noted that the industrial valley has attracted more than 110 national and international companies so far.

The King Abdullah Port can handle 3.4 million containers annually. Investments are continuing as more than 10,000 housing units and plots of land distributed among six residential districts are being developed.

KAEC is giving priority to the empowerment of Saudi youth by launching quality initiatives and projects in cooperation with a number of partners. Foremost among these is the Prince Khaled Faisal Project which aims to train some 10,000 male and female pupils by the end of 2020. Till now 3,800 students have been trained.



Gold Firms in Thin Trade as Investors Weigh Fed Outlook

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
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Gold Firms in Thin Trade as Investors Weigh Fed Outlook

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

Gold prices firmed on Monday, although trading was thin due to the holiday season and as investors looked for cues on the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy trajectory for next year after it signaled gradual easing in its latest meeting.
Spot gold added 0.3% at $2,628.63 per ounce, as of 0941 GMT, trading in a narrow $16 range. US gold futures eased 0.1% to $2,643.10.
"(It's a) Quiet day with lower liquidity and limited data releases during the holiday season," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.
"We retain a constructive outlook for gold in 2025, targeting a move to $2,800/oz by mid-2025."
The Fed cut rates by 25 basis points on Dec. 18, although the central bank's predictions of fewer rate cuts in 2025 resulted in a decline in gold prices to their lowest level since Nov. 18 last week.
US consumer spending increased in November, supporting the Fed's hawkish stance, a sentiment that was also shared by San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly.
Higher interest rates dull non-yielding bullion's appeal.
"Presently, we are in a lull for Christmas week with the gold price trending sideways. Federal Reserve policy is clear with expectations of rising interest rates in the second half of the year," said Michael Langford, chief investment officer at Scorpion Minerals.
"The next big impact is the incoming presidency of (Donald) Trump and the initial presidential decrees that he might declare. This has the potential to add to market volatility and be bullish for gold prices."
Gold, often considered a safe-haven asset, typically performs well during economic uncertainties.
Spot silver rose 0.8% to $29.75 per ounce and platinum climbed 1.3% to $938.43. Palladium steadied at $920.53.