Egypt Seeks to Launch Partnerships with Saudi Arabia in Productive Sectors

An Egyptian delegation, headed by the Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmad Samir, held a series of meetings with senior officials in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An Egyptian delegation, headed by the Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmad Samir, held a series of meetings with senior officials in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Seeks to Launch Partnerships with Saudi Arabia in Productive Sectors

An Egyptian delegation, headed by the Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmad Samir, held a series of meetings with senior officials in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An Egyptian delegation, headed by the Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmad Samir, held a series of meetings with senior officials in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmad Samir said his country is seeking to launch industrial partnerships with Saudi Arabia in a number of productive sectors with the aim of achieving industrial integration between Cairo and Riyadh, and strengthening joint cooperation frameworks.  

Samir emphasized the need to take advantage of the great potentials in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, mainly the specialized industrial cities, the availability of manpower, and production inputs, in order to secure the needs of the Egyptian and Saudi markets and promote exports to a large number of regional and global countries.  

The Egyptian minister concluded on Sunday an extensive visit to the Kingdom, where he met with a number of Saudi officials, including Minister of Industry and Mining Bandar AlKhorayef, Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, Mohammad Abdulaziz, acting governor of the Foreign Trade Authority, Abdul-Rahman bin Sulaiman, Chairman of the Saudi Export Development Authority, and others.  

In a press statement, Samir said he discussed with Saudi officials ways to improve bilateral trade and investment relations, benefit from the great economic potential in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and translate them into tangible cooperation projects.  

The minister emphasized the need to enhance joint efforts to facilitate intra-trade movement. He noted that trade exchange between Egypt and Saudi Arabia surged 41.3% year-on-year in 2021, reaching around $4.572 billion in 2021, compared to $3.236 billion in 2020.  

He also revealed that Saudi investments in Egypt amounted to $6.12 billion in 6,017 projects in the fields of manufacturing, construction, tourism, agriculture, services, finance, telecommunication, and information technology.  



Gold Advances as Softer Core CPI Data Revives Fed Easing Hopes

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Gold Advances as Softer Core CPI Data Revives Fed Easing Hopes

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)

Gold prices extended gains on Wednesday, as the dollar dipped after US core inflation data came in softer than expected, abating inflation pressures and rekindling expectations that the Federal Reserve's easing cycle may not be over yet.

Spot gold gained 0.4% to $2,688.19 per ounce by 0915 a.m. ET (1415 GMT). US gold futures were up 1.1% to $2,711.40.

Excluding volatile food and energy components, core CPI increased 3.2% on an annual basis, compared with an expected 3.3% rise, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

"Core CPI came in a little bit below expectations. This is a bit of a positive for gold... The corollary to this is that the Fed will not necessarily exclude the possibility of cutting rates," said Bart Melek, head of commodity strategies at TD Securities.

"The probability of a rate cut in January is kind of nothing, but we are pricing some rate cuts by the end of the year here."

Markets now expect the Fed to deliver 40 basis points (bps) worth of rate cuts by year-end, compared with about 31 bps before the inflation data.

The dollar index eased 0.4%, making bullion more attractive for other currency holders. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yields also slipped.

Investors are worried that the potential for tariffs after President-elect Donald Trump re-enters the White House next week could stoke inflation and limit the Fed's ability to lower rates to a greater extent.

Non-yielding bullion is considered a hedge against inflation, although higher rates diminish its appeal.

However, the uncertainties around Trump's tariffs and trade policies for the global economy and their potential impact on growth are likely to sustain safe-haven demand for gold, said Zain Vawda, market analyst at MarketPulse by OANDA.

Spot silver firmed 1% to $30.23 per ounce, platinum rose 0.4% to $938.70, and palladium added 2% to $960.25.