Saudi Banks Earn $10 Bn in 9 Months

A Saudi money changer displays Saudi Riyal banknotes at a currency exchange shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia July 27, 2017 (File Photo: Reuters)
A Saudi money changer displays Saudi Riyal banknotes at a currency exchange shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia July 27, 2017 (File Photo: Reuters)
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Saudi Banks Earn $10 Bn in 9 Months

A Saudi money changer displays Saudi Riyal banknotes at a currency exchange shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia July 27, 2017 (File Photo: Reuters)
A Saudi money changer displays Saudi Riyal banknotes at a currency exchange shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia July 27, 2017 (File Photo: Reuters)

Saudi banks listed in the local financial market posted huge profits of $10.05 billion in the first nine months of 2018, according to financial results.

Saudi bank profits for the first nine months of this year jumped by 9.9 percent, compared to the same period last year. This achievement confirms the vitality and strength of the country’s financial sector at a time of fluctuating international oil prices.

According to the financial results, 10 Saudi banks listed on the local financial market announced a new growth in profits for the first nine months of this year with one bank’s growth rate reaching up to 27.9 percent. Only two banks announced a decline in profits by 2 and 18 percent.

In stock news, the index of the Saudi market closed last week at 7662 points with a decline of 1.05 percent, equivalent to 81 points, compared to the previous week’s levels of 7743 points.

Last week was the deadline for the announcement of financial results of the term ending September 30. The total profit of 165 companies – excluding firms that have different financial years – amounted to $23.7 billion, a 1.04 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

These positive developments come as Saudi revenues during the third quarter of this year grew by 57 percent compared to the same quarter in 2017, while total revenues from the start of the year till the end of the third quarter amounted to $176.8 billion, registering a growth of 47 percent over the first nine months of 2017.



Oman Expands Oil, Gas Exploration by Signing New Concession Agreement

Officials at the contract signing ceremony (Oman News Agency)
Officials at the contract signing ceremony (Oman News Agency)
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Oman Expands Oil, Gas Exploration by Signing New Concession Agreement

Officials at the contract signing ceremony (Oman News Agency)
Officials at the contract signing ceremony (Oman News Agency)

The Omani Ministry of Energy and Minerals on Sunday signed an agreement with Daleel Petroleum Company (the operator) to explore and develop Concession Area No. 15 in Al Dhahirah Governorate.
The concession agreement constitutes a strategic step towards enhancing oil and gas reserves and expanding production rates through the resources of Area No. 15, a stretch of ​​1,389 square kilometers.
Through this new agreement, Daleel Petroleum Company will undertake a set of geological and geophysical studies, reprocess existing seismic data, conduct a 3D seismic survey and drill several wells to assess the hydrocarbon potential in the designated area.
The agreement was signed by Salim al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, Mohammed al Barwani, Chairman and Founder of Mohammed Al Barwani Group and Zhang Yu, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China’s national development corporation.
Salah Hafiz Al Dhahab, Director General of Investment at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said that Daleel Petroleum company was awarded the contract (as the operator) due to its success in developing Concession Area No. 5 with high efficiency and raising its daily oil production from 5,000 to more than 50,000 barrels per day, according to the Oman News Agency.
Al Dhahab added that the agreement embodies the government’s confidence in national companies operating in the sector, while at the same time underlines Oman’s keenness to consolidate its relationship with Chinese partners, opening the way for more cooperation opportunities that would attract foreign investments.