Business

World Food Prices Dip in October, but Remain Higher Than a Year Ago

Business A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)

World Food Prices Dip in October, but Remain Higher Than a Year Ago

World food prices edged lower in October as weaker import demand contributed to monthly declines in cereal, dairy and meat prices, but were still nearly 6%…

Business Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)

Copper Falls, Set for Worst Week Since March on AI Rout

Copper dropped on Friday and was set for its biggest weekly drop in London since March, as a rout in technology stocks battered markets. Benchmark three…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)

Emerging Economies Set to Match Advanced Nations’ Renewable Capacity Additions, IEA Says

Emerging ‌and developing economies outside China are expected to add as much new renewable energy capacity as advanced economies for the first time over…

Business Gold bracelets displayed in a shop window on Green Street, east London, UK, April 30, 2024. (AFP)

Gold Drops Over 1% on Higher Oil Prices; US Payrolls Data in Focus

Gold prices slipped on Friday as oil prices rebounded, fanning inflation worries and higher-for-longer interest rate expectations, while investors awaited key…

Business A pumpjack operates near Bakersfield, California, on Oct. 16. (AFP)

Oil Set for Sharp Weekly Drop but Middle East Supply Concerns Provide Floor

Oil prices are set for a sharp weekly drop on expectations of a de-escalation of the Iran war after US President Donald Trump's party suffered election losses,…


Business Vendors offer desserts to pedestrians at a store in Beijing, China, 09 November, 2024. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES

EU Says Does Not Want Trade War with Beijing

The EU does not want a trade war with Beijing but five years of talks have yielded no real progress, the bloc's ambassador to China said on Saturday, adding…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Designed as a young Saudi woman, SARA is depicted as a travel enthusiast deeply knowledgeable about her country. SPA

Saudi Tourism Authority Launches AI Beta Version of SARA

The Saudi Tourism Authority has launched the beta version of "SARA," an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart guide for Saudi tourism. SARA captivated…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold Poised for Biggest Weekly Fall in over Five Months on Dollar Strength

Gold prices dropped on Friday, poised for their steepest weekly decline in over five months, pressured by a stronger dollar and as markets absorbed the…

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

Oil Prices Fall More than 1% as Hurricane Rafael Risk Recedes

Oil prices fell on Friday on receding fears over the impact of Hurricane Rafael on oil and gas infrastructure in the US Gulf while investors also weighed up…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business FILED - 24 May 2018, Türkiye, Istanbul: Turkish lira are kept fanned out. Photo: Can Merey/dpa

Türkiye's Central Bank Raises Inflation Forecasts, Vows Tight Policy

Türkiye's central bank raised its year-end inflation forecasts for this year and next to 44% and 21% respectively on Friday, and Governor Fatih Karahan vowed…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Photo from the second edition of the Cityscape Global Exhibition in Riyadh (SPA)

Cityscape Global in Saudi Arabia to Introduce Over 100,000 Housing Units

The Cityscape Global exhibition, set to open on Monday in Riyadh, is expected to introduce more than 100,000 housing units, financing options with interest…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Visitors walk past a shop under construction with a dragon mural at the Sanlitun shopping district in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

China Approves $840B Plan to Refinance Local Government Debt, Boost Economy

China on Friday approved a 6 trillion yuan ($839 billion) plan to help local governments refinance their mountains of debt, in the latest push to rev up growth…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Council of Economic and Development Affairs Reviews Local, Global Economic Developments

The Saudi Council of Economic and Development Affairs has convened via video conference to review reports and agenda items, including a monthly update on local…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell attends a press conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy in Washington, US, November 7, 2024. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon

Federal Reserve Cuts Key Interest Rate by a Quarter-point

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Thursday by a quarter-point in response to the steady decline in the once-high inflation that had angered…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Bank of England Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy Clare Lombardelli, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, The Bank of England's Head of Media and Stakeholder Engagement Katie Martin and Deputy Governor, Markets and Banking, Dave Ramsden hold the central bank's Monetary Policy Report press conference at the Bank of England, in London, on November 7, 2024. HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS

Bank of England Cuts Main Interest Rate by a Quarter-point to 4.75%

The Bank of England cut its main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday after inflation across the UK fell below its target rate of 2%…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Business Donald Trump addresses his supporters at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida on Wednesday. (EPA)

After Trump’s Victory, Arab Demands for Competitive Advantages Due to Regional Tensions

With the election of Donald Trump as US president, the global economy has gained direction for the coming years. Trump’s policies favor corporate tax cuts,…

Sabri Najeh (Cairo)
Business A container ship unloads its cargo in the German port of Hamburg (Reuters)

Euro Zone Poised to Enter Trade Quagmire as Trump Wins

As Trump 2.0 becomes a reality, Europe is poised to enter a new geopolitical and trade quagmire with its biggest trading partner. Donald Trump's victory may…

Asharq Al Awsat (Brussels)
Business FILE PHOTO: Oil pump jacks are seen at the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas deposit in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina, January 21, 2019.  REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo

Oil Prices Rise as Investors Eye US Election Fallout

Oil prices rose on Thursday following a sell-off triggered by the US presidential election, as risks to oil supply from a Trump presidency and a hurricane…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman,  (SPA)

Crown Prince to Patronize 3rd Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit on November 10-12

The Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, is organizing the third edition of the Riyadh Global Medical…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Trump Win Ignites Crypto Frenzy that Sends Bitcoin to Record High

Trump Win Ignites Crypto Frenzy that Sends Bitcoin to Record High

The price of bitcoin hit a new high Wednesday and crypto-related shares rallied as investors bet that former President Donald Trump's victory in the US…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business FILED - 16 March 2023, Bavaria, Munich: Gold bars and gold coins of different sizes lie in a safe on a table at the precious metal dealer Pro Aurum. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa

Gold Hastens Retreat as Dollar Rallies on Trump Victory

Gold prices slid more than 3% to a three-week low on Wednesday as investors piled into the US dollar after Republican Donald Trump was elected US president. …

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A civilian aircraft flies over the skies of the Saudi capital (Riyadh Air)

Riyadh Air Plans New Jet Order Decision in H1,2025

Saudi Riyadh Air is wading back into the jet market after buying dozens of Airbus and Boeing planes and aims to finalise a new deal involving the industry's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi (L) and Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State Don Farrell shake hands during the signing of the Australia-UAE Trade Agreement at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, 06 November 2024.  EPA/LUKAS COCH

UAE, Australia Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

The United Arab Emirates and Australia have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) hat removes or reduces tariffs, lifts barriers to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Aramco’s pavilion at the Global Future Investment Initiative conference held in Riyadh (FII webiste)

Aramco Maintains $31 Billion in Dividends Despite Profit Decline

Saudi Aramco retained its position as the world’s top dividend distributor, maintaining its quarterly payouts at $31.05 billion, despite a 15.4% year-over-year…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Standard & Poor’s analysts said that lower interest rates should boost Gulf non-oil economies. (Photo: Reuters)

How Will Anticipated US Interest Rate Cut Impact Gulf Economies?

The US Federal Reserve is expected to reduce interest rates again at its upcoming meeting, a decision anticipated to affect Gulf economies and their banking…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The Iraqi Council of Ministers headed by Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani (INA)

Iraq’s Government Orders Kurdistan Region to Immediately Transfer Oil Production to SOMO

The Iraqi government announced on Tuesday that it has ordered the Kurdistan region to immediately transfer its oil production to Iraq’s State Oil Marketing…

Asharq Al Awsat (Baghdad)
Business The US Embassy with a US national flag, seen behind a building with a Russian national flag in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian Rouble Dips to 100 to Dollar as Trump Declares Election Win

The Russian rouble briefly weakened to 100 against the dollar on Wednesday as Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election, a result that could…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business People are seen at an employment forum in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Private Sector Grows to Highest Level in 6 Months

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector expanded for the third consecutive month in October, driven by a surge in new orders - their highest levels since March -…

Ayat Nur (Riyadh)
Business The Jousieh crossing between Lebanon and Syria following an Israeli strike on October 25. (AFP)

Lebanon’s Struggling Economy Slides Toward Full Recession

The ongoing Israeli war on Lebanon has led to significant economic losses estimated between $10 billion and $20 billion. This range reflects the difficulty…

Ali Zeineddine (Beirut)