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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)
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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.

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Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed firm winter fuel demand expectations against large US fuel inventories and macroeconomic concerns.

Brent crude futures were down 3 cents at $76.13 a barrel by 1003 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 10 cents to $73.22.

Both benchmarks fell more than 1% on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and a bigger than expected rise in US fuel stockpiles pressured prices.

"The oil market is still grappling with opposite forces - seasonal demand to support the bulls and macro data that supports a stronger US dollar in the medium term ... that can put a ceiling to prevent the bulls from advancing further," said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong.

JPMorgan analysts expect oil demand for January to expand by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) year on year to 101.4 million bpd, primarily driven by increased use of heating fuels in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Global oil demand is expected to remain strong throughout January, fuelled by colder than normal winter conditions that are boosting heating fuel consumption, as well as an earlier onset of travel activities in China for the Lunar New Year holidays," the analysts said.

The market structure in Brent futures is also indicating that traders are becoming more concerned about supply tightening at the same time demand is increasing.

The premium of the front-month Brent contract over the six-month contract reached its widest since August on Wednesday. A widening of this backwardation, when futures for prompt delivery are higher than for later delivery, typically indicates that supply is declining or demand is increasing.

Nevertheless, official Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed rising gasoline and distillates stockpiles in the United States last week.

The dollar strengthened further on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's entrance into the White House on Jan. 20.

Looking ahead, WTI crude oil is expected to oscillate within a range of $67.55 to $77.95 into February as the market awaits more clarity on Trump's administration policies and fresh fiscal stimulus measures out of China, OANDA's Wong said.