New System for Companies in Saudi Arabia Competes with Int’l Business Environments

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP)
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New System for Companies in Saudi Arabia Competes with Int’l Business Environments

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP)

The Shura Council approved on Monday a new system for companies, aimed at developing the trade environment in the Kingdom and moving it to a better stage that competes with other international business environments.

Fahd Al-Takhifi, council member and Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new system provides an incubating and stimulating regulatory environment for initiative and investment, boosts the value of companies, develops their activities and contributes to supporting the national economy.

All this will reflect positively on the country’s leadership position and its competitive advantages.

Takhifi indicated that the current project, in its entirety, sought to achieve several goals in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Moreover, it supports the growth of the entrepreneurship sector and SMEs and ensures the availability of fair practices for the principles of corporate governance and institutional work.

According to Takhifi, the system includes basic principles and provisions with the aim of reducing disputes between stakeholders, ensuring fair treatment of all partners and shareholders, enhancing the rights of customers, facilitating attracting capital, providing long-term funding sources at the lowest costs, and developing the regular environment for non-profit work.

The importance of the system lies in being one of the main tributaries to achieving the objectives of the Kingdom's vision, said Takhifi, explaining that it does so through increasing the participation of the private sector and boosting the value and development of companies to the Kingdom's GDP.



Gold Firms in Thin Trade as Investors Weigh Fed Outlook

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
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Gold Firms in Thin Trade as Investors Weigh Fed Outlook

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

Gold prices firmed on Monday, although trading was thin due to the holiday season and as investors looked for cues on the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy trajectory for next year after it signaled gradual easing in its latest meeting.
Spot gold added 0.3% at $2,628.63 per ounce, as of 0941 GMT, trading in a narrow $16 range. US gold futures eased 0.1% to $2,643.10.
"(It's a) Quiet day with lower liquidity and limited data releases during the holiday season," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.
"We retain a constructive outlook for gold in 2025, targeting a move to $2,800/oz by mid-2025."
The Fed cut rates by 25 basis points on Dec. 18, although the central bank's predictions of fewer rate cuts in 2025 resulted in a decline in gold prices to their lowest level since Nov. 18 last week.
US consumer spending increased in November, supporting the Fed's hawkish stance, a sentiment that was also shared by San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly.
Higher interest rates dull non-yielding bullion's appeal.
"Presently, we are in a lull for Christmas week with the gold price trending sideways. Federal Reserve policy is clear with expectations of rising interest rates in the second half of the year," said Michael Langford, chief investment officer at Scorpion Minerals.
"The next big impact is the incoming presidency of (Donald) Trump and the initial presidential decrees that he might declare. This has the potential to add to market volatility and be bullish for gold prices."
Gold, often considered a safe-haven asset, typically performs well during economic uncertainties.
Spot silver rose 0.8% to $29.75 per ounce and platinum climbed 1.3% to $938.43. Palladium steadied at $920.53.