Bahrain Records Improvement in Economic Sector Indicators

Bahrain’s capital Manama (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Bahrain’s capital Manama (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Bahrain Records Improvement in Economic Sector Indicators

Bahrain’s capital Manama (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Bahrain’s capital Manama (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Bahrain’s Ministry of Finance and National Economy has announced continued improvement in the financial and economic indicators of various economic sectors during Q1 2022, exceeding the pre-pandemic 2019 benchmarks.

This improvement comes in line with the Kingdom’s launching of its economic recovery plan, which includes initiatives and strategies targeting several promising sectors to serve citizens.

In the tourism and hospitality sector, the average occupancy rate in four and five-stars hotels was 55%, while the number of mall visitors increased by 26.9% compared with the same quarter in 2021.

Another sign of the turnaround is the 35.4% increase in new commercial licenses in 2022 and so did the value of sales using Bahrain ATM cards, which increased by 4.2%.

Remarkable growth was achieved in February in the financial services sector as Fawri+ transactions grew by 55.1% and Fawri transactions increased by 22.1%.

In terms of international trade, the total value of exports amounted to 64.7%, and the total fuel sales increased by 12.2%.

Similarly, total non-bank deposits grew by 12.7% and the Bahrain Bourse index witnessed a 33.3% increase.

In the real estate sector, transactions registered with the Survey and Land Registration Bureau increased by 19.6%, while the number of building permits increased by 15.8%.



Gold Hits Three-week Peak on Softer Dollar and Safe Haven Inflows

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
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Gold Hits Three-week Peak on Softer Dollar and Safe Haven Inflows

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices touched their highest level in three weeks on Friday supported by a softer dollar and safe-haven buying, while markets braced for potential economic and interest rate changes from US President-elect Donald Trump's proposed policies.

Spot gold was little changed at $2,658.11 per ounce, as of 1115 GMT, hitting its highest level since Dec. 13. Bullion is up about 1.5% for the week so far.

US gold futures were steady at $2,672.20.

The dollar index fell 0.3% from over a two-year high hit in the previous session, making dollar-priced bullion more affordable for holders of other currencies, Reuters reported.

"Gold bulls are setting the tone early doors this year, enjoying the lift from safe haven bids while riskier equities struggle to hold on to nascent gains," said Exinity Group Chief Market Analyst Han Tan.

On the geopolitical front, in Gaza Israeli airstrikes killed at least 68 Palestinians, Gaza authorities said. While, Russia launched a drone strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Wednesday, city officials said.

Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 has heightened uncertainty, with his proposed tariffs and protectionist policies expected by many economists to be inflationary and potentially spark trade wars.

"Markets are aware that Trump's policies risk reawakening US inflationary impulses, which should be a boon for gold so long as markets adhere to the precious metal’s role as an inflation hedge," Tan added.

Bullion, which is considered a hedge against economic and geopolitical uncertainties, tends to thrive in lower interest rate environment.

After delivering three consecutive interest rate cuts in 2024, the US central bank now projects only two reductions in 2025 due to due to stubbornly high inflation.

Spot silver rose 0.6% to $29.75 per ounce.

"Lower real US yields and stronger global industrial production should favor the metal in 2025," UBS said in a note, adding that they see silver to trade between $36-38/oz in 2025.

Platinum added 0.8% to $930.09, and palladium gained 1.2% to $922.58. Both metals were on track for weekly gains.