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 FILE PHOTO: A traveller is seen with his belongings at a railway station, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Beijing, China January 13, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

China's Leaders Pledge to Spur Domestic Demand, Economic Recovery

China will spur domestic demand and consolidate and enhance the economic recovery in 2024, the Politburo, a top decision-making body of the ruling Communist…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are pictured at the plant of gold and silver refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, Switzerland, July 13, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse//File Photo

Gold Heads for First Weekly Drop in Four Weeks ahead of US Jobs Data

Gold was on track for its first weekly fall in four weeks after the dollar firmed, although prices held steady on Friday as markets looked ahead to key US jobs…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A group photo at the opening ceremony of the FII PRIORITY Summit Hong Kong (PIF)

Al-Rumayyan: PIF Analyzes Global Trends Before Investments

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, emphasized that…

Asharq Al Awsat (Hong Kong)
Business Saudi ministers of finance and economy attend the first dialogue session of the Budget 2024 Forum, titled “Sustainable Finance” in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Ministers Affirm Commitment to Economic Diversification

The Saudi Minister of Finance asserted on Thursday that since its initiation in 2016, the national transformation plan of the Kingdom, known as Vision 2030,…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi participated in a high-level ministerial session on e-commerce held on the sidelines of the UNCTAD eWeek 2023. SPA

Saudi Commerce Minister Discusses Role of Digital Economy in Shaping Global Trade Future

Saudi Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Competitiveness Center (NCC) Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi has highlighted…

Asharq Al Awsat (Geneva)
Business Expo City in the Emirate of Dubai, where the COP 28 conference is being held. (EPA)

COP28 Concludes 1st Week amid Expectations for Agreements

At the end of the first week of the COP28 conference held in Dubai, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, on Wednesday, called on the countries…

Asharq Al Awsat (Dubai )
Business This handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) walking with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a welcoming ceremony in the capital Riyadh on December 6, 2023. (Photo by SPA / AFP)

Saudi Crown Prince, Putin Urge All OPEC+ Countries to Join Output Deal

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Russian President Vladimir Putin have commended the close cooperation between them and the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business FILE PHOTO: A tanker truck used to haul oil products operates at an oil facility near Brooks, Alberta, Canada April 18, 2018. REUTERS/Todd Korol/File Photo

Oil Rebounds from 6-month-low

Oil prices reclaimed some ground on Thursday after tumbling to a six-month low in the previous session but investors remained concerned about sluggish demand…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi Cabinet approves the 2024 budget (SPA)

Saudi 2024 Budget: 1.172 Trillion Riyals in Revenues

The Saudi government, in a meeting chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Wednesday, approved the Kingdom’s 2024 budget. While next year’s…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business A general view of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia, February 20, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Benmansour

Saudi Arabia Announces Tax Breaks to Foreign Firms With New HQs

Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday it would grant 30 years of tax relief to multinationals establishing regional headquarters. This comes less than a month…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Red Sea connects Africa and Asia and is a vital corridor for maritime shipping. (Photo: Reuters)

Houthi Attacks on Ships in Red Sea Threaten Global Trade

Tension escalated in the Red Sea after ships were attacked while crossing the vital path that links Europe to the Arabian Gulf and Sea, all the way to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The cost of complete transformation will be steep and may lead to the collapse of the entire global economic system (AFP)

Saudi Arabia Rules Out Phasing Out Oil Usage

In the heat of deliberations at COP 28 in Dubai regarding the critical energy future dossier, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman categorically…

Asharq Al Awsat (Dubai)
Business The contraction of the non-oil private sector in Egypt slows during November, but business confidence declines to the lowest level in 11 and a half years. (Reuters)

Egypt’s Non-Oil Private Sector Contraction Slows Down in November

The Standard & Poor’s Global Purchasing Managers’ Index showed on Tuesday that the contraction of the non-oil private sector in Egypt slowed in November, but…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business Manufacturers are very optimistic about the next 12 months as they expect a favorable business climate. (SPA)

Saudi Private Sector Activity Continues to Grow in November as New Orders Rise

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector continued its rapid growth during November, driven by the rise of new orders to the highest level in 5 months, according…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business People walk at a shopping compound in Beijing, China December 6, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

China Blue-chip Stocks Hit 5-year Lows, Yuan Eases after Moody's Move

China's blue-chip stocks slumped to an almost five-year trough on Wednesday while the yuan currency extended losses, as markets grappled with Moody's cut to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Gold jewellery is seen displayed for sale at a Chow Tai Fook jewellery store in Shanghai, China November 27, 2023. REUTERS/Nicoco Chan

Gold Ticks Up as Dollar Slips

Gold prices edged higher on Wednesday as the dollar eased and weaker-than-expected US jobs data cemented expectations that the Federal Reserve's policy…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Founder Rocco Forte indicated that Saudi Arabia's support will give the company more financial strength (Rocco Forte)
Founder Rocco Forte indicated that Saudi Arabia's support will give the company more financial strength (Rocco Forte)

Saudi Arabia's PIF Buys 49% of Rocco Forte's Luxury Hotel Chain

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has bought a 49 percent stake in Sir Rocco Forte's luxury hotel group and plans to double the chain's size over…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman (Ministry of Energy)

Saudi Green Initiative Forum at COP28: Kingdom Advances Climate Ambitions

Saudi Arabia has unveiled its efforts to launch renewable energy projects with a capacity of 20 gigawatts by 2024. This comes after the kingdom having…

Ahmed al-Ghemrawi (Dubai ) Mosaed al-Zayani (Dubai)
Business A woman shops at a street market in Istanbul, Türkiye, 04 December 2023. (EPA)

Türkiye's Inflation Ticks up to 62%

Türkiye's annual inflation rate ticked up slightly in November, the state statistics agency said on Monday, showing further signs of levelling off following a…

Business A general view of Abu Dhabi, UAE. (WAM)

UAE Banks Pledge $200 bln in Green Finance at COP28 Climate Talks

Banks in the United Arab Emirates on Monday pledged to mobilize 1 trillion dirhams, or around $200 billion, in green finance, the chair of the country's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Participants walk next to COP28 flags in Expo City in Dubai (AFP)

COP28 Focuses on Protecting Health from Climate Risks

UN Climate Conference (COP28) focused on climate-related health issues, while discussions behind closed doors addressed vital other problems, such as the…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Dubai) Ahmed al-Ghemrawi (Dubai)
Business (FILES) Gold bullion bars are pictured after being inspected and polished at the ABC Refinery in Sydney on August 5, 2020. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

Gold Prices Sprint to All-time Peak on Fed Rate-cut Bets

Gold prices hit all-time highs above $2,100 per ounce on Monday as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's remarks elevated traders' confidence that the US…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Saudi Green Initiative sessions are held on the sidelines of the COP28 conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)

COP28: Saudi Green Initiative Discusses Climate Initiatives

The third edition of the Saudi Green Initiative Forum 2023 activities kicked off on Monday in Dubai, coinciding with the 28th Conference of the Parties to the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Dubai)
Business Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman speaking at a former conference (File photo: Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Energy: Global Demand for Petrochemicals to Continue to Grow

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman expected global demand for petrochemicals to grow rapidly, bolstering demand for hydrocarbons as raw…

Asharq Al Awsat (Doha)