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)
TT

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.



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.