Saudi Stock Exchange Gains Jump 17.5% Since Beginning of 2019

Faisal Al Nasser / Reuters
Faisal Al Nasser / Reuters
TT

Saudi Stock Exchange Gains Jump 17.5% Since Beginning of 2019

Faisal Al Nasser / Reuters
Faisal Al Nasser / Reuters

Saudi stock exchange gains jumped 17.5 percent since the beginning of the year, making it one of the world's most profitable stock markets in the first months of 2019.

In this regard, foreign investors continued to purchase in the Saudi stock market, as the latest statistics from the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) revealed that the foreign investors' share rose to 5.48% and that net foreign investors' liquidity reached 7.8% in favor of orders (purchase).

This new rise in foreign investment towards the Saudi stocks market represents an important indication of the high reliability of the country's financial market and reflects confidence in the strength and vitality of the Saudi economy.

In this context, the Saudi exchange index closed this week at a rise of around 109 points, at a level of 9,197 points compared to 9,088 points. It continued to rise for the sixth week in a row. Trading value witnessed a remarkable growth of SAR16.73 billion (USD4.46 billion) compared to around SAR15.53 billion (USD4.14 billion) in the past week.

The report by Tadawul, issued on Sunday, showed the rise of Gulf investors possession in the Saudi shares market to 2.04 percent.

In 2018, the Saudi listed companies recorded positive growth in profits up to SAR105.3 billion (USD28.08 billion).

Inclusion of Saudi Arabia into the S&P Dow Jones Emerging Market and FTSE Russell indices was an acknowledgment of the investors' continuous confidence in the market, which reflects the success of reforms and enhancements accomplished in tandem with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Financial Sector Development Program.



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.