Business

Iraq Oil Output Exceeds 5 million bpd

Business Majnoon oil field near the Iraqi city of Basra (Reuters)

Iraq Oil Output Exceeds 5 million bpd

Iraq produces more than 5 million barrels of oil per day (bpd), Oil Minister Basim Mohammed told state news agency INA on Saturday. According to Reuters, Iraq…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during the Annual Meetings Plenary at the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok on October 16, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

IMF: Any Slowdown in AI-driven Growth Would be Factor for Central Banks

Central bankers around the world would need to consider any slowdown in AI-driven growth as they assess steps in their fight against inflation, International…

Asharq Al Awsat
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 ‘Like Slaves’: Lebanon’s Delivery Riders Struggle as Crisis Bites

‘Like Slaves’: Lebanon’s Delivery Riders Struggle as Crisis Bites

His motorbike's tank almost empty, Ahmad had barely enough fuel to make one more delivery and get home for the night. When the 24-year-old Syrian's phone…

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Business Britain Set for £7bn Transport Investment

Britain Set for £7bn Transport Investment

Britain's upcoming budget will invest almost £7.0 billion ($9.6 billion, 8.3 billion euros) on transport outside London, the Treasury said on Saturday, as part…

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Business Foreign Aid Lost in Syria Exchange Rate Distortions

Foreign Aid Lost in Syria Exchange Rate Distortions

Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government benefited from variations in foreign currency exchange rates, boosting state coffers with at least $100 million in…

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Business Fitch Eyes Fallout from Turkey Rate Cut ‘Missteps’, Official Says

Fitch Eyes Fallout from Turkey Rate Cut ‘Missteps’, Official Says

Turkey’s surprisingly aggressive interest rate cut this week was another “policy misstep” and Fitch Ratings is watching how much it hurts financing for banks…

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Business Lebanon Eyes IMF Progress Despite New Turmoil, Says Economy Minister

Lebanon Eyes IMF Progress Despite New Turmoil, Says Economy Minister

Lebanon's new government aims to make progress towards starting full negotiations for an IMF deal by the end of this year or early next, but is not expecting…

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Business Turkish Lira Continues to Slide after Interest Rate Cut

Turkish Lira Continues to Slide after Interest Rate Cut

The Turkish lira continued to slide and reached a record low against the US dollar Friday, a day after the Central Bank sharply cut interest rates. It was…

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Business Oil Stays Near $85 a Barrel, Brent Set for Seventh Weekly Gain

Oil Stays Near $85 a Barrel, Brent Set for Seventh Weekly Gain

Oil prices stayed near multi-year highs on Friday, erasing some earlier losses in Asian trading hours, with concerns about tight supply and stockpiles fueling…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Evergrande Pays Overdue Interest on Offshore Bond

Evergrande Pays Overdue Interest on Offshore Bond

China's troubled property giant Evergrande has made a key offshore interest payment a day ahead of a weekend deadline, state media said Friday, averting a…

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Business Aoun: Forensic Audit of Lebanon Central Bank Has Begun

Aoun: Forensic Audit of Lebanon Central Bank Has Begun

A forensic audit of the Lebanese central bank by Alvarez & Marsal began on Thursday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Twitter, indicating fresh momentum…

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Business Turkish Central Bank Shocks Again by Slashing Rates 200 Points

Turkish Central Bank Shocks Again by Slashing Rates 200 Points

Turkey's central bank shocked markets again by slashing its policy rate by 200 basis points to 16% on Thursday, sending the lira to a new all-time low and…

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Business GCC Countries Reiterate Support for Bahrain's Fiscal Program

GCC Countries Reiterate Support for Bahrain's Fiscal Program

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reiterated their support for Bahrain’s plans to balance its budget, a move expected to help their neighbor in…

Asharq Al Awsat (Dubai)
Business Fitch: Egypt's Economic Growth Outperformed Vast Majority of World Countries

Fitch: Egypt's Economic Growth Outperformed Vast Majority of World Countries

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Egypt’s long-term foreign-currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'B+' with a stable outlook. The agency said Egypt's economic…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business Oil Falls as Investors Take Profits

Oil Falls as Investors Take Profits

Oil prices fell on Thursday as some investors scooped up profits from the recent rally, though solid demand in the United States and a switch to fuel oil from…

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Business Al-Falih Starts US Visit to Reinforce Saudi-US Commercial, Investment Partnership

Al-Falih Starts US Visit to Reinforce Saudi-US Commercial, Investment Partnership

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih began Wednesday a visit to the US. His visit aims at highlighting Saudi Arabia as a major global…

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)
Business Egypt Eyes Quadrupling Desalination Capacity in 5 Years

Egypt Eyes Quadrupling Desalination Capacity in 5 Years

Egypt aims to more than quadruple desalination capacity by granting private companies concessions from its sovereign wealth fund to build 17 plants over the…

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Business Asian Shares Mixed after Evergrande Sale Deal Called Off

Asian Shares Mixed after Evergrande Sale Deal Called Off

Shares are mixed in Asia after major Chinese property developer Evergrande said a plan to sell its property management arm to a smaller rival had fallen…

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Business Saudi Energy Minister Sees Demand from Gas-to-Oil Switch at up to 600,000 Bpd

Saudi Energy Minister Sees Demand from Gas-to-Oil Switch at up to 600,000 Bpd

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said users switching from gas to oil could account for demand of 500,000-600,000 barrels per day …

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Business Saudi Arabia Reveals Bidders for 3rd Phase of Renewable Energy Projects

Saudi Arabia Reveals Bidders for 3rd Phase of Renewable Energy Projects

The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced the list of bidders of 1,200 MW Saudi renewable energy projects, consisting of four independent generation projects (IPP…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Egypt Seeks to Boost Private Sector Contribution to Economic Development

Egypt Seeks to Boost Private Sector Contribution to Economic Development

The Ministry of International Cooperation in Egypt held a meeting with the European Union and European Investment Bank to discuss the new mechanisms for future…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business Saudi-Moroccan Business Council to Hold Expo in Q1 2022

Saudi-Moroccan Business Council to Hold Expo in Q1 2022

The Saudi-Moroccan Business Council revealed plans to launch the “Two Kingdom’s Forum and Exhibition” in Jeddah in the first quarter of 2022. Ali Borman Al…

Asharq Al Awsat (Rabat)
Business UAE Signs Deal with Iraq to Promote Investments

UAE Signs Deal with Iraq to Promote Investments

The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), has signed an agreement to promote and protect mutual investments with Iraq. The agreement aims to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Dubai)
Business Oil Remains Near Multi-year Highs

Oil Remains Near Multi-year Highs

Oil edged lower on Tuesday but remained near multi-year highs as an energy supply crunch continued across the globe, while falling temperatures in China…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business IMF to Discuss with Tunisia Plans for Fund Assistance

IMF to Discuss with Tunisia Plans for Fund Assistance

The International Monetary Fund has been in contact with Tunisian authorities after a new cabinet was formed last week and more talks are expected soon on the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business IMF Calls on Lebanon to Address Financial Losses

IMF Calls on Lebanon to Address Financial Losses

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Lebanese authorities have started technical discussions to pull the country out of its crisis, a senior IMF official…

Asharq Al Awsat