Saudi Arabia Announces Opening of Neom Bay Airport

Neom Bay airport (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Neom Bay airport (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
20

Saudi Arabia Announces Opening of Neom Bay Airport

Neom Bay airport (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Neom Bay airport (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on Tuesday the opening of Neom Bay Airport in the northern region of Sharma.
 
The Authority said that the airport has been licensed and was ready to receive commercial flights starting next Sunday, after the first phase of development work was completed and was registered by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) earlier with the code “NUM.”

Neom Bay Airport will conduct regular flights to investors and employees of Saudi Arabia’s giant Neom project. It is also considered a new window on the Red Sea. It is one of the most modern and important airports in the Middle East region and the most geographically distinct since it is located on the borders of three countries: Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.
 
The airport establishment comes within Saudi Vision 2030 and aims to support the development of the national economy by creating a modern and global logistics platform for organizations and individuals around the world.

The total area of the airport is 3,643 sq. meters and has a hangar to accommodate as many as six aircraft.



Gold Gains over 1% as Dollar, Yields Ease; Spotlight on Trade

A gold seller arranges gold bracelets at a gold shop in Bangkok's Chinatown, Thailand, January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/ File Photo
A gold seller arranges gold bracelets at a gold shop in Bangkok's Chinatown, Thailand, January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/ File Photo
TT
20

Gold Gains over 1% as Dollar, Yields Ease; Spotlight on Trade

A gold seller arranges gold bracelets at a gold shop in Bangkok's Chinatown, Thailand, January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/ File Photo
A gold seller arranges gold bracelets at a gold shop in Bangkok's Chinatown, Thailand, January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/ File Photo

Gold prices gained over 1% on Monday as the dollar and US bond yields weakened amid uncertainty over trade talks ahead of a US deadline of August 1 for countries to strike deals or face more tariffs.

Spot gold was up 1.2% at $3,390.79 per ounce at 9:52 ET (1352 GMT). US gold futures were up 1.3% to $3,402.40.

The US dollar index was down 0.4%, making dollar-denominated gold more affordable for buyers using other currencies, while benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields hit a more than one-week low, Reuters reported.

"With the August 1st deadline looming, it brings a level of uncertainty to the market and that certainly is supportive," said David Meger, director of metals trading at High Ridge Futures.

The European Union is exploring a broader set of possible counter-measures against the US as prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington fade, according to EU diplomats.

On the interest rate front, traders are pricing about a 63% chance of a rate cut in September, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the entire Federal Reserve needed to be examined as an institution and whether it had been successful.

Talk of earlier than expected U.S. rate cuts is building, with speculation around a possible replacement of Fed Chair Jerome Powell and reshaping of the Fed adding to market jitters, Meger said.

Gold is considered a hedge against uncertainty and tends to perform well in a low interest rate environment.

Data showed that the world's leading gold consumer, China, brought in 63 metric tons of the precious metal last month, the lowest amount since January. Its imports of platinum in June fell 6.1% from the prior month.

Spot silver gained 1.8% to $38.86 per ounce, platinum rose 2.2% to $1,453.17 and palladium was 3.5% higher at $1,284.46.