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Saudi Arabia Inaugurates Stage of Transition to Digital World Economies

Saudi Arabia introduces its National Gaming and Esports Strategy (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia introduces its National Gaming and Esports Strategy (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Inaugurates Stage of Transition to Digital World Economies

Saudi Arabia introduces its National Gaming and Esports Strategy (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia introduces its National Gaming and Esports Strategy (Asharq Al-Awsat)

After Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the National Gaming and Esports Strategy on Thursday, Saudi Arabia is set to launch a serious transformation phase towards the economies of the gaming industry.

The Strategy aims to contribute to the Kingdom’s GDP by about SAR 50 billion ($13.3 billion) directly and indirectly, experts confirmed.

Moreover, economists told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Strategy will support investors in the gaming and esports sector in drawing a road map through which Saudi Arabia becomes a global hub for the industry.

Raising the quality of life by improving players’ experience, providing new entertainment opportunities, and achieving an economic impact by contributing to the GDP by about SAR 50 billion are the Strategy’s three main objectives.

This will lead to the creation of 39,000 new jobs by 2030.

Saudi Arabia aims to produce more than 30 competitive games in the Kingdom’s studios and become one of the top three countries having the highest number of professional esports players.

Ahmed Al-Shehri, an economist, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new Strategy would motivate investors to enter the promising sector of gaming and e-sports and achieve huge profits in light of the great demand from the current generations for these games.

According to Al-Shehri, the Strategy is bound to yield a positive effect on the Saudi economy.

The country intends to implement the Strategy through 86 initiatives covering the entire value chain, which was launched and managed by more than 20 government and private entities.

These initiatives are divided into eight focus areas, which include technology and hardware development, game production, e-sports, additional services, and other aspects such as infrastructure, regulations, education and talent acquisition.

The Strategy will meet the aspirations of the gaming community locally and globally by providing new and distinctive job and recreational opportunities, Saudi economic expert Ahmed al-Jubeir told Asharq Al-Awsat.

According to al-Jubeir, the Strategy will create healthy competition among companies to enter this promising and targeted sector in Saudi Arabia.

He noted that companies could achieve huge profits because of the Kingdom having the largest purchasing power in the region.

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Dollar Steadies ahead of Trump Inauguration

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
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Dollar Steadies ahead of Trump Inauguration

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo

The US dollar steadied on Thursday despite the sharp fall in US bond yields after Wednesday’s inflation data as market focus shifted to Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration next week and possible inflationary impact of his policies.

Meanwhile the yen rose against the dollar and the euro as investors expected the Bank of Japan to hike rates next week.

The US dollar index - a measure of the value of the greenback relative to a basket of foreign currencies - was up 0.1% at 109.12.

"Markets are cautious before the inauguration because there is still policy uncertainty," said Paul Mackel, global head of foreign exchange research at HSBC.

"If the risk of US tariffs begins to materialize, the dollar will get another lift," he added, Reuters reported.

The highlight of the day should be the nomination hearing of Trump's choice of Scott Bessent to head the Treasury Department.

Bessent, who will face questioning before the US Senate Finance Committee, is expected to keep a leash on US deficits and to use tariffs as a negotiating tool, mitigating the expected inflationary impact of economic policies expected from the Trump administration.

The US inflation curve "has a well-identifiable 40 bps 'hump' over the next 12 months, which is near-identical to the estimated impact of a 5% universal and 20% China tariff starting as soon as Trump gets in office," said George Saravelos, head of forex research at Deutsche Bank.

"The market is pricing quick but moderate tariffs," he added. "We see risks of slower but bigger tariffs."

Traders who have been growing more worried about inflation responded with relief to Wednesday's US data, buying stocks and sending benchmark 10-year Treasury yields down more than 13 basis points. The currency reaction was more muted.

Analysts flagged that the US consumer price data was better than expected, but still showing inflation above Federal Reserve targets. The figures provided the US bond market with an excuse to do some downside testing for yields, but such a move is unlikely to go far.

"We still think that it will be easy for the Fed to remain on hold for now and wait for more data and fiscal policy clarity," said Allison Boxer, an economist at PIMCO, adding that US data did not change their forecasts for core inflation.

"We expect this to be the message (Fed) Chair (Jerome) Powell aims to communicate at the January meeting."

There was little direct reaction in foreign exchange markets to the ceasefire deal in Gaza, though the Israeli shekel did touch a one-month high on Wednesday.

The yen rose 0.46% against the dollar, after hitting 155.21, its lowest level since Dec. 19. It was up 0.51% against the euro at 160.19.

Recent remarks from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda and his deputy Ryozo Himino have made clear that a hike will at least be discussed at next week's policy meeting and markets see about a 79% chance of a 25 basis point increase, while pricing 50 bps of rate hikes by year-end.

"Yen strengthened on expectations for a rate hike, but now the focus is on what BOJ officials will say about the monetary policy outlook," HSBC's Mackel argued.

"They could signal a more gradual path for the future, which could limit yen gains."

Japan's annual wholesale inflation held steady at 3.8% in December on stubbornly high food costs, data showed on Thursday.

"Expectations of a BOJ hike and perhaps fears of more forex intervention in the 158/160 area have helped the yen outperform," said Chris Turner, head of forex strategy at ING.

"We expect that to continue into next week's BOJ meeting. However, dips may exhaust in the 153/155 area," he said.

The euro was up 0.05% at $1.0294.

Sterling dropped sharply against the yen and also weakened versus the dollar and the euro on Thursday as investors focused on monetary policy divergence after last week's selloff in gilts and the pound.

China's yuan, seen on the front lines of tariff risk, was pinned near the weak end of its trading band at 7.3468 throughout the Asia session.