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Production, Services Boost Non-Oil Economy in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammad al-Jadaan.
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammad al-Jadaan.
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Production, Services Boost Non-Oil Economy in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammad al-Jadaan.
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammad al-Jadaan.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammad al-Jadaan revealed that the Kingdom made tangible progress in economic diversification, citing an increase in the growth rates of the non-oil economy from about 0.2 percent in 2016 to about 3.3 percent in 2019, reaching nearly 5.4 percent in H1 2021.

Jadaan noted that the authorities' efforts contributed to the gradual recovery of the Saudi economy in containing the financial and economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic through plans, programs and policies aimed at facing risks.

Speaking on the occasion of Saudi National Day, he stressed that the Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the National Center for Government Resources Sys., facilitated financial transactions for the public and private sectors.

The Etimad application received over 623,000 payment orders, worth more than $153.3 billion. It completed exchange procedures worth $151.6 billion within 15 days, representing more than 98 percent of the value of the payment orders received.

The volume of trading in the local secondary debt markets increased by more than $18.6 billion in 2020, and the indirect lending initiative contributed to financing small and medium enterprises.

Jadaan stated that the initiative to support the sustainability of companies and the initiatives of the Projects Support Fund contributed to supporting private sector facilities to enhance their role in the economic system to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.

Since the launch of Vision 2030, the state's public deficit was reduced from 15.8 percent in 2015 to 4.5 percent in 2019.

Saudi Arabia is expected to lower the deficit in 2021 after containing the financial and economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jadaan said Saudi Arabia had saved SR500 billion over the last four years until mid-2021, backed by its spending efficiency efforts.

According to the Minister, the privatization project is proceeding according to plan, as 17 sectors and 176 initiatives were identified, 32 of which were launched and 18 others awarded to relevant companies.

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Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
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Firm Dollar Keeps Pound, Euro and Yen Under Pressure

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo

The US dollar charged ahead on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields, putting the yen, sterling and euro under pressure near multi-month lows amid the shifting threat of tariffs.

The focus for markets in 2025 has been on US President-elect Donald Trump's agenda as he steps back into the White House on Jan. 20, with analysts expecting his policies to both bolster growth and add to price pressures, according to Reuters.

CNN on Wednesday reported that Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal justification for a series of universal tariffs on allies and adversaries. On Monday, the Washington Post said Trump was looking at more nuanced tariffs, which he later denied.

Concerns that policies introduced by the Trump administration could reignite inflation has led bond yields higher, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note hitting 4.73% on Wednesday, its highest since April 25. It was at 4.6709% on Thursday.

"Trump's shifting narrative on tariffs has undoubtedly had an effect on USD. It seems this capriciousness is something markets will have to adapt to over the coming four years," said Kieran Williams, head of Asia FX at InTouch Capital Markets.

The bond market selloff has left the dollar standing tall and casting a shadow on the currency market.

Among the most affected was the pound, which was headed for its biggest three-day drop in nearly two years.

Sterling slid to $1.2239 on Thursday, its weakest since November 2023, even as British government bond yields hit multi-year highs.

Ordinarily, higher gilt yields would support the pound, but not in this case.

The sell-off in UK government bond markets resumed on Thursday, with 10-year and 30-year gilt yields jumping again in early trading, as confidence in Britain's fiscal outlook deteriorates.

"Such a simultaneous sell-off in currency and bonds is rather unusual for a G10 country," said Michael Pfister, FX analyst at Commerzbank.

"It seems to be the culmination of a development that began several months ago. The new Labour government's approval ratings are at record lows just a few months after the election, and business and consumer sentiment is severely depressed."

Sterling was last down about 0.69% at $1.2282.

The euro also eased, albeit less than the pound, to $1.0302, lurking close to the two-year low it hit last week as investors remain worried the single currency may fall to the key $1 mark this year due to tariff uncertainties.

The yen hovered near the key 160 per dollar mark that led to Tokyo intervening in the market last July, after it touched a near six-month low of 158.55 on Wednesday.

Though it strengthened a bit on the day and was last at 158.15 per dollar. That all left the dollar index, which measures the US currency against six other units, up 0.15% and at 109.18, just shy of the two-year high it touched last week.

Also in the mix were the Federal Reserve minutes of its December meeting, released on Wednesday, which showed the central bank flagged new inflation concerns and officials saw a rising risk the incoming administration's plans may slow economic growth and raise unemployment.

With US markets closed on Thursday, the spotlight will be on Friday's payrolls report as investors parse through data to gauge when the Fed will next cut rates.