Egypt, Oman Discuss Boosting Trade, Investment

Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, is seen after sailing through Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt August 20, 2021. Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Reuters
Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, is seen after sailing through Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt August 20, 2021. Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Reuters
TT

Egypt, Oman Discuss Boosting Trade, Investment

Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, is seen after sailing through Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt August 20, 2021. Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Reuters
Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, is seen after sailing through Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt August 20, 2021. Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Reuters

Egypt's Trade and Industry Minister Nevine Gamea underlined the importance of benefiting from the Omani market for Egyptian exports to access the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and markets bound with Oman by free trade agreements.

Gamea met with Omani Trade and Industry Minister Qais bin Mohammed al-Yousef via video conference to boost trade, industrial, and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Yousef reiterated his country's hope to benefit from Egyptian expertise in the economic, trade, and investment domains. He underlined the importance of the Egyptian-Omani business council in boosting marketing and investment relations and achieving Oman's Vision 2040.

He stressed his country's keenness to benefit from Egyptian expertise in the e-commerce domain. He emphasized the importance of increasing joint investments within the coming period.

The minister pointed to the importance of increasing joint investments between the two countries during the next stage, especially since there are successful Egyptian investment experiences in Oman in tourism and retail trade.

According to a statement by the ministry, the Omani side invited the minister to visit Muscat during the first quarter of 2022, leading a delegation of businessmen to explore ways of economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

Gamea said intensive meetings would be held within the coming period between the two sides' officials and businessmen and holding the Egyptian-Omani business council and an investment forum.

She said the Omani products could also benefit from the Egyptian market to access Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) markets grouping 21 countries.



Gold Hits over 2-week Low as Higher US Dollar, Yields Dent Appeal

Marked ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a cart at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
Marked ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a cart at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
TT

Gold Hits over 2-week Low as Higher US Dollar, Yields Dent Appeal

Marked ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a cart at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
Marked ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a cart at the Krastsvetmet non-ferrous metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices slipped 1% to their lowest level in more than two weeks, weighed down by a stronger dollar and higher bond yields, while traders looked forward to US inflation data due later this week.

Spot gold fell 0.9% to $2,299.40 per ounce by 10:03 a.m. ET (1403 GMT), hitting its lowest since June 10. US gold futures also fell 0.8% to $2,311.30, Reuters reported.

"At this point, market may very well be responding to the firmer US dollar and we continue to price in the possibility that the US Federal Reserve is unlikely to move (interest rates) earlier in the summer," said Bart Melek, head of commodity strategies at TD Securities.

The dollar rose 0.4% to a near two-month peak against its rivals, making gold more expensive for other currency holders, while benchmark US 10-year yields hit a near two-week high.

Focus this week will be on the US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, Fed's preferred inflation gauge, that could shed more light on the US interest rate path.

Also on the radar, US first-quarter gross domestic product estimates and a crucial debate between US President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump on Thursday.

Data out on Tuesday showed US consumer confidence eased in June amid worries about the economic outlook, but households remained upbeat about the labor market and expected inflation to moderate over the next year.

Fed Governor Michelle Bowman on Tuesday reiterated her view that holding the policy rate steady "for some time" will probably be enough to bring inflation under control, but also repeated her willingness to raise borrowing costs if needed.

Higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

Spot silver fell 0.5% to $28.79, palladium lost 2.8% to $921.75, while platinum climbed 1.7% to $998.75.