Over 49,000 Loans Via Sakani in Six Months

Real Estate Development Fund (REDF)
Real Estate Development Fund (REDF)
TT

Over 49,000 Loans Via Sakani in Six Months

Real Estate Development Fund (REDF)
Real Estate Development Fund (REDF)

The Saudi Real Estate Development Fund (REDF) revealed that the total number of mortgage loans announced by Sakani Program during the past six months reached 49,800 backed by the fund in partnership with banks and financial institutions. These loans represent 39 percent of total housing and funding options announced by Sakani program on a monthly basis – in addition to loans, they include prefabricated units, under construction units and free lands.

REDF added that this number of mortgage loans is half Sakani's target in its second phase of 2018 -- the target total of loans until December is 100,000 for those on the waiting list at Real Estate Development Fund. It added that during the past year it announced 85,000 mortgage loans distributed around the kingdom.

Within the program, Riyadh has the greatest percentage of mortgage loans, reaching around 28 percent, followed by Makkah, with 16 percent. The remaining percentage was distributed over the other regions.

REDF spokesman Hamoud Al-Osaimi said the fund, in partnership with financial institutions, continues to provide services to beneficiaries whose names were announced during recent batches of Sakani.

Thousands of citizens have completed their applications and been approved for mortgage loans, he added, stressing the fund’s aim to help citizens get housing that suits them.

The ministry and the fund urged citizens to visit the sakani.housing.sa portal for a list of people allocated housing this month, and to visit the portal eskan.gov.sa and the REDF portal redf.gov.sa to complete the necessary procedures, update data and approve products.



Gold Hits Three-week Peak on Softer Dollar and Safe Haven Inflows

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
TT

Gold Hits Three-week Peak on Softer Dollar and Safe Haven Inflows

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices touched their highest level in three weeks on Friday supported by a softer dollar and safe-haven buying, while markets braced for potential economic and interest rate changes from US President-elect Donald Trump's proposed policies.

Spot gold was little changed at $2,658.11 per ounce, as of 1115 GMT, hitting its highest level since Dec. 13. Bullion is up about 1.5% for the week so far.

US gold futures were steady at $2,672.20.

The dollar index fell 0.3% from over a two-year high hit in the previous session, making dollar-priced bullion more affordable for holders of other currencies, Reuters reported.

"Gold bulls are setting the tone early doors this year, enjoying the lift from safe haven bids while riskier equities struggle to hold on to nascent gains," said Exinity Group Chief Market Analyst Han Tan.

On the geopolitical front, in Gaza Israeli airstrikes killed at least 68 Palestinians, Gaza authorities said. While, Russia launched a drone strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Wednesday, city officials said.

Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 has heightened uncertainty, with his proposed tariffs and protectionist policies expected by many economists to be inflationary and potentially spark trade wars.

"Markets are aware that Trump's policies risk reawakening US inflationary impulses, which should be a boon for gold so long as markets adhere to the precious metal’s role as an inflation hedge," Tan added.

Bullion, which is considered a hedge against economic and geopolitical uncertainties, tends to thrive in lower interest rate environment.

After delivering three consecutive interest rate cuts in 2024, the US central bank now projects only two reductions in 2025 due to due to stubbornly high inflation.

Spot silver rose 0.6% to $29.75 per ounce.

"Lower real US yields and stronger global industrial production should favor the metal in 2025," UBS said in a note, adding that they see silver to trade between $36-38/oz in 2025.

Platinum added 0.8% to $930.09, and palladium gained 1.2% to $922.58. Both metals were on track for weekly gains.