Mawani Reveals New Shipping Line Between Saudi Arabia, East African Countries

Mawani Reveals New Shipping Line Between Saudi Arabia, East African Countries
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Mawani Reveals New Shipping Line Between Saudi Arabia, East African Countries

Mawani Reveals New Shipping Line Between Saudi Arabia, East African Countries

Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) announced on Wednesday the launch of a new shipping line connecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with East African countries through the shipping line "CMA CGM", the world's leading company in shipping services.

It is also the first container shipping-line to reach King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast, which contributes to enhancing the movement of exports and imports to and from Yanbu.

This comes within the framework of continuous efforts exerted made by Mawani towards strategic partnerships with major international shipping lines, developing the capabilities of Saudi ports and the level of their competitive services in a way that contributes to developing national exports and imports, investment flows and the development of non-oil state revenues.

This also comes within the strategic goals of the authority to contribute to raising Saudi Arabia's competitiveness in terms of investment and logistical services and consolidating the Kingdom's position as one of the main capabilities towards achieving the Vision 2030 in making Saudi Arabia an attractive global logistical platform and a link between continents of the world.

The new shipping line will contribute to linking the Saudi ports, Jeddah Islamic Port and King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu with East Africa ports, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It will also lead to opening direct lines for shipping and exporting national products, increasing the quantities of handling in Saudi ports, in addition to contributing to direct import from East Africa and boosting trade.



Gold Hits Four-week Peak on Safe-haven Demand

A view shows ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk
A view shows ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk
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Gold Hits Four-week Peak on Safe-haven Demand

A view shows ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk
A view shows ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk

Gold prices rose to a near four-week high on Thursday, supported by safe-haven demand, while investors weighed how US President-elect Donald Trump's policies would impact the economy and inflation.

Spot gold inched up 0.4% to $2,672.18 per ounce, as of 0918 a.m. ET (1418 GMT). US gold futures rose 0.7% to $2,691.80.

"Safe-haven demand is modestly supporting gold, offsetting downside pressure coming from a stronger dollar and higher rates," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

The dollar index hovered near a one-week high, making gold less appealing for holders of other currencies, while the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield stayed near eight-month peaks, Reuters reported.

"Market uncertainty is likely to persist with the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump as the next US president," Staunovo said.

Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal justification for a series of universal tariffs on allies and adversaries, CNN reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Trump will take office on Jan. 20 and his proposed tariffs could potentially ignite trade wars and inflation. In such a scenario, gold, considered a hedge against inflation, is likely to perform well.

Investors' focus now shifts to Friday's US nonfarm payrolls due at 08:30 a.m. ET for further clarity on the Federal Reserve's interest rate path.

Non-farm payrolls likely rose by 160,000 jobs in December after surging by 227,000 in November, a Reuters survey showed.

Gold hit a near four-week high on Wednesday after a weaker-than-expected US private employment report hinted that the Fed may be less cautious about easing rates this year.

However, minutes of the Fed's December policy meeting showed officials' concern that Trump's proposed tariffs and immigration policies may prolong the fight against rising prices.

High rates reduce the non-yielding asset's appeal.

The World Gold Council on Wednesday said physically-backed gold exchange-traded funds registered their first inflow in four years.

Spot silver rose 0.7% to $30.32 per ounce, platinum fell 0.8% to $948.55 and palladium shed 1.4% to $915.75.