MAWANI Announces Investment Opportunities to Develop 8 Saudi Ports

A view of the Jeddah Islamic Port. (SPA)
A view of the Jeddah Islamic Port. (SPA)
TT

MAWANI Announces Investment Opportunities to Develop 8 Saudi Ports

A view of the Jeddah Islamic Port. (SPA)
A view of the Jeddah Islamic Port. (SPA)

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI), through the Supervisory Committee for Privatization in the Transportation Sector and in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services (MOTLS) and the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP), has announced investment opportunities in partnership with the private sector to develop and operate multi-purpose terminals in eight Saudi ports.

The initiative comes in line with the objectives of the National Strategy of Transport and Logistics Services.

It also contributes to promoting the Kingdom’s economic growth, developing local services in the ports sector and raising the competitiveness of Saudi ports regionally and globally.

The promising opportunities are represented in build-operate-transfer (BOT) structure for terminals in each of Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Ras Al-Khair Port, Jizan Port, Yanbu Commercial Port, King Fahad Industrial Port in Jubail, King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu, and Jubail Commercial Port, equipping the ports to serve various functions, including containers, general cargo, bulk cargo, RORO cargo, passengers, and livestock.

The initiative falls within strengthening the partnership between the public and private sectors in ports and logistics services. This is in addition to optimizing the utilization of assets and increasing operational efficiency in this vital sector.

Separately, the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources signed a MoU with Sadara Chemical Company to develop the business environment of the integrated services zones.

The memorandum is aimed at diversifying economic sources to achieve an added value in the industrial sector and to contribute in providing job vacancies to citizens, as well as to push cooperation among government institutions, the private industrial sector and international firms.



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
TT

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.