Saudi Arabia Works on Strengthening Legislation Frameworks to Combat Money Laundering

The 14th Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (CAML) seminar was held on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 14th Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (CAML) seminar was held on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Works on Strengthening Legislation Frameworks to Combat Money Laundering

The 14th Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (CAML) seminar was held on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 14th Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (CAML) seminar was held on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi authorities have been keen on strengthening legislative and regulatory frameworks to combat money laundering crimes, confirmed Deputy Governor for Supervision at the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Yazeed AlSheikh.

Speaking at the 14th Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (CAML) seminar in Riyadh, AlSheikh reaffirmed that the Kingdom attaches great importance to combating financial crimes, including money laundering and terrorism financing.

The deputy governor stressed that money laundering crimes and their accelerating developments constitute one of the major challenges facing the international community and governments worldwide.

It also negatively impacts the stability of financial and economic systems, explained AlSheikh, highlighting how this also threatens international peace and security.

AlSheikh stated that holding the CAML seminar reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fulfilling its international obligations.

The seminar presents an appropriate opportunity for practitioners working in concerned authorities, financial institutions, and specific non-financial businesses and professions to learn about the best international experiences and practice in the field, added AlSheikh.

The exchange of experiences will strengthen and build the technical and knowledge capabilities of practitioners in the Kingdom, he reaffirmed.

Moreover, AlSheikh highlighted several important issues related to legislation and challenges related to combating proliferation financing and Internet fraud crimes.

CAML is organized by SAMA, Anti-Money Laundering Permanent Committee (AMLPC) and Refinitiv (An LSEG Business) and is held under the patronage of Ayman Alsayari, Governor of SAMA.

The annual event welcomes several regional and international speakers from Financial Institutions, Regulators, Technology firms and Advisory Groups. It is recognized as a valuable platform for an exchange of ideas and information between the Kingdom’s business leaders, financial institutions and local professionals.

CAML, in five sessions, tackled the topics including the latest global regulatory developments, the latest challenges in proliferation financing, cyber-enabled fraud crime, financial inclusion, and outsourcing AML activities.



Oil Edges Up on Strong US GDP Data

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
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Oil Edges Up on Strong US GDP Data

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

Oil prices were up slightly on Friday on stronger-than-expected US economic data that raised investor expectations for increasing crude oil demand from the world's largest energy consumer.

But concerns about soft economic conditions in Asia's biggest economies, China and Japan, capped gains.

Brent crude futures for September rose 7 cents to $82.44 a barrel by 0014 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude for September increased 4 cents to $78.32 per barrel, Reuters reported.

In the second quarter, the US economy grew at a faster-than-expected annualised rate of 2.8% as consumers spent more and businesses increased investments, Commerce Department data showed. Economists polled by Reuters had predicted US gross domestic product would grow by 2.0% over the period.

At the same time, inflation pressures eased, which kept intact expectations that the Federal Reserve would move forward with a September interest rate cut. Lower interest rates tend to boost economic activity, which can spur oil demand.

Still, continued signs of trouble in parts of Asia limited oil price gains.

Core consumer prices in Japan's capital were up 2.2% in July from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, raising market expectations of an interest rate hike in the near term.

But an index that strips away energy costs, seen as a better gauge of underlying price trends, rose at the slowest annual pace in nearly two years, suggesting that price hikes are moderating due to soft consumption.

China, the world's biggest crude importer, surprised markets for a second time this week by conducting an unscheduled lending operation on Thursday at steeply lower rates, suggesting authorities are trying to provide heavier monetary stimulus to prop up the economy.