New Regulations of Mining Investment Law Come into Effect in Saudi Arabia

A view shows Maaden Aluminum in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia November 23, 2016. (Reuters)
A view shows Maaden Aluminum in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia November 23, 2016. (Reuters)
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New Regulations of Mining Investment Law Come into Effect in Saudi Arabia

A view shows Maaden Aluminum in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia November 23, 2016. (Reuters)
A view shows Maaden Aluminum in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia November 23, 2016. (Reuters)

The Saudi new mining investment law came into force on Friday and aims to attract foreign investors to the sector and boost the mineral industry in Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030.

Bandar Al-Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, said that the new regulations that were introduced to the law would have several positive effects that would benefit the investors and the investment environment in the long-term.

In remarks on Friday, the minister that the new regulations would ensure the sector governance, enhance transparency and investor confidence in the sector and achieve its sustainability.

He added that the regulations would cover minerals exports, investment stimulation in value chains and the development of controls to support licensed investors and enhance efficiency of licensing measures to become fully digital.

The law comes in line with the objectives of Vision 2030 to diversify non-oil economic resources and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

Meanwhile, the Economic and Energy Committee of the Shura Council recently discussed the annual report of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, which included the mechanisms to encourage and stimulate the establishment of factories in cities and regions to support sustainability in the industrial sector and to address different challenges.

In a report issued by the National Center for Industrial Information, the ministry noted that up to October the number of factories throughout the Kingdom reached 9,563, with a capital amounting to 1.086 trillion riyals (USD 266 billion). The factories perform more than 24 industrial activities, leading with the non-metallic minerals sector.



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.