Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover

Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover
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Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover

Quick Gulf Movement Pushes Bahraini Dinar to Recover

Bahrain’s dinar recovered against the American dollar in the spot markets during early trading on Wednesday, while Central Bank of Bahrain announced covering the most recent issuance of government treasury bills up to 129 percent.

The recovery of the Bahraini dinar came quick after the standpoint announced by Saudi Arabia with the participation of UAE and Kuwait to support economic reforms in Bahrain in which Saudi Arabia announced that it continues along with Kuwait and UAE talks with Bahrain to reinforce the financial conditions stability.

“The kingdom of Bahrain, along with its sisters Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, will announce a programme to support the stability of the financial situation in Bahrain,” Finance Minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa told the official BNA news agency.

Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait announced an economic program to support financial stability in Bahrain and the recovery of Bahraini dinar. A comprehensive program to back economic reforms and general finance stability in Bahrain is anticipated soon. Positive reactions were restricted to the progress of Bahraini dinar in which Bahrain bills recovered strongly.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan affirmed that Bahrain has started a package of financial and economic reforms, and will continue to carry out these reforms with the support of its sisters in the Gulf.

The stance announced by Saudi Arabia with the participation of UAE and Kuwait to support economic reforms in Bahrain falls under the Saudi fixed policy to stand with Bahrain no matter what challenges it faces.

Saudi Arabia’s support to Bahrain comes as a continuity to the kingdom’s policy to its sisters and allies in which Saudi Arabia has been the first economic and political backer to Bahrain throughout the history of both countries’ ties.



Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions

Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions
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Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions

Oil Prices Rise as Concerns Grow over Supply Disruptions

Oil prices climbed on Tuesday reversing earlier declines, as fears of tighter Russian and Iranian supply due to escalating Western sanctions lent support.

Brent futures were up 61 cents, or 0.80%, to $76.91 a barrel at 1119 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 46 cents, or 0.63%, to $74.02.

It seems market participants have started to price in some small supply disruption risks on Iranian crude exports to China, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

In China, Shandong Port Group issued a notice on Monday banning US sanctioned oil vessels from its network of ports, according to three traders, potentially restricting blacklisted vessels from major energy terminals on China's east coast.

Shandong Port Group oversees major ports on China's east coast, including Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai, which are major terminals for importing sanctioned oil.

Meanwhile, cold weather in the US and Europe has boosted heating oil demand, providing further support for prices.

However, oil price gains were capped by global economic data.

Euro zone inflation

accelerated

in December, an unwelcome but anticipated blip that is unlikely to derail further interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank.

"Higher inflation in Germany raised suggestions that the ECB may not be able to cut rates as fast as hoped across the Eurozone, while US manufactured good orders fell in November," Ashley Kelty, an analyst at Panmure Liberum said.

Technical indicators for oil futures are now in overbought territory, and sellers are keen to step in once again to take advantage of the strength, tempering additional price advances, said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of research at Onyx Capital Group.

Market participants are waiting for more data this week, such as the US December non-farm payrolls report on Friday, for clues on US interest rate policy and the oil demand outlook.