Britain's INEOS to Invest $2 Bln in Saudi Plants

FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured in the headquarters of INEOS chemicals company in Rolle, Switzerland, November 13, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured in the headquarters of INEOS chemicals company in Rolle, Switzerland, November 13, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
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Britain's INEOS to Invest $2 Bln in Saudi Plants

FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured in the headquarters of INEOS chemicals company in Rolle, Switzerland, November 13, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured in the headquarters of INEOS chemicals company in Rolle, Switzerland, November 13, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

British petrochemicals maker Ineos is investing $2 billion to build three plants in Saudi Arabia that would form part of petrochemical complex being developed in the Kingdom by state-owned Saudi Aramco and France's Total.

INEOS' plants would be part of a $5 billion complex called Project Amiral that aimed to supply more than $4 billion of derivatives and speciality chemicals, the company said.

"We are bringing advanced downstream technology which will add value and create further jobs in the Kingdom," Ratcliffe, INEOS' chairman, said in a statement to announce the deal with Aramco and Total.

The energy and chemicals firm said the plants would have access to competitive raw materials and energy, as well as infrastructure to serve customers in the region and Asia.

INEOS is one of the largest producers of acrylonitrile, a toxic liquid used to make artificial fibres and other polymers.

One of the three plants would be a acrylonitrile plant, the company said.

Paul Overment, chief executive of INEOS Nitriles, said demand for acrylonitrile was outpacing economic growth.



Safe-Haven Gold Breaks $2,700/Oz Level as Uncertainty Looms

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
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Safe-Haven Gold Breaks $2,700/Oz Level as Uncertainty Looms

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 breached the $2,700-per-ounce level on Friday for the first time ever, as US election jitters and simmering Middle East tensions boosted safe-haven demand, while a looser monetary policy environment also added fuel to the rally.
Spot gold firmed 0.6% to $2,709.28 per ounce by 0430 GMT and gained 2% this week. US gold futures rose 0.6% to $2,724.50.
Gold could gather further traction given the fluidity of election developments and geopolitical uncertainties, said OCBC FX strategist Christopher Wong.
Hezbollah said it will escalate war with Israel after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Elsewhere, with less than three weeks remaining to cast votes this US presidential election, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump are stretching for the support of every last voter.
"Gold has scoffed at a surging dollar and rallies at every chance it gets. It's just a bull market that shows no signs of exhaustion," said Tai Wong, a New York-based independent metals trader.
US economic data released overnight pointed to a strengthening economy, which boosted the US dollar. But traders still see a 90% chance of a Federal Reserve rate cut in November. The European Central Bank cut interest rates for the third time this year as the euro zone economy sags.
Lower rates increase the non-yielding bullion's appeal.
Bullion will continue to perform well over the long term, benefiting from the precarious fiscal situations of many Western nations, and the global desire for a store of value independent of other assets and institutions, said Ryan McIntyre, senior portfolio manager at Sprott Asset Management.
Delegates to the London Bullion Market Association's annual gathering
predicted
gold would rise to $2,941 over the next 12 months and silver to $45.
Spot silver rose 0.9% to $31.97 and headed for a weekly gain. Platinum added 0.6% to $997.80 and palladium increased 0.6% to $1,048.55.