Investment Requests in Saudi Industries Exceed $13 Billion

A worker housing project in Yanbu. (SPA)
A worker housing project in Yanbu. (SPA)
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Investment Requests in Saudi Industries Exceed $13 Billion

A worker housing project in Yanbu. (SPA)
A worker housing project in Yanbu. (SPA)

Official information revealed on Monday that requests for investment in Saudi basic and manufacturing industries in the cities of Jubail and Yanbu amounted to SAR 50 billion ($13.3 billion) during the first quarter of 2020, despite the repercussions of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Royal Commission president for the two cities, Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Saadan, said that the Kingdom’s effective steps to protect citizens and residents from the pandemic and the early and firm precautionary measures it has taken have reduced its negative effects on various aspects of life.

Al-Saadan was speaking during a virtual meeting held on Monday with the members of the National Committee for Industry in the Council of Saudi Chambers, with the participation of the executive heads of the Royal Commission, to answer the questions of businessmen and investors from different regions of the Kingdom.

He noted that the industry and mineral wealth sector was the target of great initiatives to support and stimulate the economy and reduce operating costs and financial obligations to the private sector.

Al-Saadan explained that shipping lines that connect the industrial city of Yanbu with the port of Jeddah and East African ports would serve many investors through the quick access to customers and markets at an appropriate cost and would greatly increase the volume of exports and imports in the future.

With regards to employment in industrial areas, he stated that the Royal Commission was working on a development project that targets the workers’ residential areas.



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.