SAMA: Government Housing Subsidies Not to Be Calculated in Customers’ Income

The Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs witnesses the conclusion of a new cooperation agreement in refinancing (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs witnesses the conclusion of a new cooperation agreement in refinancing (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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SAMA: Government Housing Subsidies Not to Be Calculated in Customers’ Income

The Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs witnesses the conclusion of a new cooperation agreement in refinancing (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs witnesses the conclusion of a new cooperation agreement in refinancing (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co. (SRC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), signed a joint cooperation agreement with Alinma Bank to acquire a real estate financing portfolio.

The agreement falls within the company’s continuous efforts to support the residential real estate market in the Kingdom, by expanding the acquisition of real estate financing portfolios and providing the necessary liquidity to ensure financial stability in the market.

The agreement was jointly signed by the company’s CEO, Fabrice Susini, and Alinma Bank CEO, Abdullah bin Ali Al-Khalifa.

Susini said the agreement was part of the company’s ongoing efforts to expand its partnerships with real estate financiers in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, SAMA told all banks and financial institutions operating in the Kingdom that subsidies provided by government agencies to clients should not be classified within the customer’s total monthly income.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, SAMA notified financial institutions and banks that the exception to the documented government support provided by the Ministry and the Fund did not include amounts that are not paid periodically within the client’s total monthly income.



Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions

Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions
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Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions

Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions

Oil prices climbed on Tuesday reversing earlier declines, as fears of tighter Russian and Iranian supply due to escalating Western sanctions lent support.

Brent futures were up 61 cents, or 0.80%, to $76.91 a barrel at 1119 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 46 cents, or 0.63%, to $74.02.

It seems market participants have started to price in some small supply disruption risks on Iranian crude exports to China, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

In China, Shandong Port Group issued a notice on Monday banning US sanctioned oil vessels from its network of ports, according to three traders, potentially restricting blacklisted vessels from major energy terminals on China's east coast.

Shandong Port Group oversees major ports on China's east coast, including Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai, which are major terminals for importing sanctioned oil.

Meanwhile, cold weather in the US and Europe has boosted heating oil demand, providing further support for prices.

However, oil price gains were capped by global economic data.

Euro zone inflation

accelerated

in December, an unwelcome but anticipated blip that is unlikely to derail further interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank.

"Higher inflation in Germany raised suggestions that the ECB may not be able to cut rates as fast as hoped across the Eurozone, while US manufactured good orders fell in November," Ashley Kelty, an analyst at Panmure Liberum said.

Technical indicators for oil futures are now in overbought territory, and sellers are keen to step in once again to take advantage of the strength, tempering additional price advances, said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of research at Onyx Capital Group.

Market participants are waiting for more data this week, such as the US December non-farm payrolls report on Friday, for clues on US interest rate policy and the oil demand outlook.