Riyadh to Host Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit on Monday

A car drives past the Kingdom Center Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 12, 2017. (Reuters)
A car drives past the Kingdom Center Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 12, 2017. (Reuters)
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Riyadh to Host Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit on Monday

A car drives past the Kingdom Center Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 12, 2017. (Reuters)
A car drives past the Kingdom Center Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 12, 2017. (Reuters)

Retail Leaders Circle (RLC) MENA Summit will kick off in Riyadh on Monday, in partnership with “Invest Saudi” and under the patronage of Minister of Commerce and Investment Majed al-Qasabi.

More than 50 speakers will take part in the summit, in addition to a group of experts and decision-makers in the regional retail sector.

The two-day summit will convene in the Saudi capital under the theme “Future Retail & Consumer: Thriving in a Changing Environment.” It will bring together more than 1,500 retail leaders, brand owners, SMEs, industry stakeholders policy-makers and investors.

It will organize dialogues and workshops that will focus on several significant topics that address the changing environment of retail and consumption in the Kingdom and the region.

It aims to shed light on Saudi Arabia’s plans to become a pioneer in business, investment and retail in line with its Vision 2030 goals.

The Kingdom’s hosting of the event coincides with Saudi Arabia taking over the G20 presidency.

The partnership between Invest Saudi and RLC is part of efforts by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority to attract key world and regional events that bring together business pioneers and decision-makers.

Significantly, Saudi Arabia ranked seventh in retail trade according to the 2019 Global Retail Development Index.



Gold Steady as Focus Shifts to US Data for Economic Cues

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
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Gold Steady as Focus Shifts to US Data for Economic Cues

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices were little changed on Monday, while investors awaited a slew of US economic data including the December nonfarm payrolls report for further guidance on the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates.
Spot gold held its ground at $2,635.39 per ounce by 0510 GMT. US gold futures dropped 0.2% to $2,646.80.
How the US jobs data fares this week could hold the key to whether gold breaks out of its recent range, said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
"There is a plethora of US data due for release this week (including ISM Services PMI data), and any downside misses could hurt the USD and help gold."
The US jobs report, due on Friday, is expected to provide more clues to the Fed's rate outlook after the US central bank rattled markets last month by reducing its projected cuts for 2025.
Investors are also awaiting ADP hiring and job openings data, as well as minutes of the Fed's last policy meeting for further direction.
Gold flourishes in a low-interest-rate environment and serves as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainties and inflation.
US President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to office on Jan. 20 and his proposed tariffs and protectionist policies are expected to fuel inflation.
This could prompt the Fed to go slow on rate cuts, limiting gold's upside. After three rate cuts in 2024, the Fed has projected only two reductions for 2025 due to persistent inflation.
The US central bank's benchmark policy rate should stay restrictive until it is more certain that inflation is returning to its 2% target, Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin said on Friday.
Spot silver was down 0.2% at $29.57 per ounce, platinum dipped 0.7% to $931.30 and palladium fell 0.4% to $918.22.