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
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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 Eyes Best Quarter in over Eight Years

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Gold Eyes Best Quarter in over Eight Years

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)

Gold halted its record run on Friday but remained on track for its best quarter since 2016 after a rally catalysed by an outsized US Federal Reserve interest rate cut, while markets braced themselves for a crucial inflation report due later in the day.

Spot gold was down 0.1% at $2,666.50 per ounce as of 1115 GMT, below the all-time peak of $2,685.42 hit in the previous session. It is heading for its best quarter since the first three months of 2016.

US gold futures fell 0.2% to $2,688.90, Reuters reported.

"The market at this point in time has priced in all the good news and there's also some hesitancy from fresh buyers to get involved at these record high levels," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

Bullion has risen 29% so far this year, hitting successive record peaks after last week's half-percentage-point cut by the Federal Reserve and the stimulus measures announced by China earlier this week.

Silver prices surged, tracking bullion's strong performance, though some analysts warn that the rally may fade.

"Overall, industrial demand is still supportive for silver. But we need to have a stronger economic performance in China as well as in other developed countries," said ANZ commodity strategist Soni Kumari.

The surge in silver prices is more a spillover impact from gold, Kumari said.

Spot silver eased 0.1% to $31.98 per ounce, after hitting its highest since December 2012 at $32.71 on Thursday. It is set for a third straight week of gains.

"I do believe silver will continue to outperform gold. But as we all know, wherever gold goes, silver tends to go, but faster," Hansen added.

Both gold and silver serve as safe-haven investments, but the latter has more industrial applications, so tends to underperform during recessions and outperform when economies expand.

Inflows into gold exchange-traded funds, particularly from Western investors, are set to rise in coming months, adding yet more positive stimulus for already record high bullion prices. Some banks expect gold to rise towards $3,000.

In other metals, platinum was up 0.5% at $1,012.40 but palladium fell nearly 1.5% to $1,031.75.