Morocco Allows Individuals to Open Hard-Currency Accounts

A currency dealer counts Moroccan dirhams in a photo illustration at a currency exchange point in Casablanca, Morocco,June 29, 2017. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal/Illustration
A currency dealer counts Moroccan dirhams in a photo illustration at a currency exchange point in Casablanca, Morocco,June 29, 2017. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal/Illustration
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Morocco Allows Individuals to Open Hard-Currency Accounts

A currency dealer counts Moroccan dirhams in a photo illustration at a currency exchange point in Casablanca, Morocco,June 29, 2017. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal/Illustration
A currency dealer counts Moroccan dirhams in a photo illustration at a currency exchange point in Casablanca, Morocco,June 29, 2017. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal/Illustration

Moroccans who receive income from foreign sources are now allowed to open a hard-currency account or a convertible dirham account. Earlier, the income had to be converted to the Moroccan dirham within one month maximum of collecting the amount.

The Foreign Exchange Office (Office des Changes), that controls the system of foreign exchange, announced the new procedures to simplify the exchange operations carried out by residing individuals.

The procedures include uplifting the limit of the currency allocated for tourism, and e-trade – they also empower migrant Moroccans who transferred their taxation residency to Morocco in order to settle the fees and dues of loans related to licensed premises abroad.

The statement revealed that the new prerequisites allow banks to open a hard-currency account or a convertible dirham account for individuals unregistered in the commercial register and who receive incomes from foreign sources so that they cover their current spending abroad.

As for the fees and dues resulting from abroad real-estate loans, the statement determined the percentage of allowed transactions at 5 of the property value.

In the same context, the Foreign Exchange Office declared doubling the limit of amounts allocated for tourism from MAD100k to MAD200k (USD10.5k to USD21k) per annum. The remaining amount can be used at the end of the year to cover the coming year’s tourism expenses.

The Office further rose the annual limit of amounts dedicated to e-commerce from MAD10k to MAD15k (USD1.05k to USD1.58k).



Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
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Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold prices rose over 1% to hit a two-week peak on Friday, heading for the best weekly performance in more than a year, buoyed by safe-haven demand as Russia-Ukraine tensions intensified.

Spot gold jumped 1.3% to $2,703.05 per ounce as of 1245 GMT, hitting its highest since Nov. 8. US gold futures gained 1.1% to $2,705.30.

Bullion rose despite the US dollar hitting a 13-month high, while bitcoin hit a record peak and neared the $100,000 level.

"With both gold and USD (US dollar) rising, it seems that safe-haven demand is lifting both assets," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Ukraine's military said its drones struck four oil refineries, radar stations and other military installations in Russia, Reuters reported.

Gold has gained over 5% so far this week, its best weekly performance since October 2023. Prices have gained around $173 after slipping to a two-month low last week.

"We understand that the price setback has been used by 'Western world' investors under-allocated to gold to build exposure considering the geopolitical risks that are still around. So we continue to expect gold to rise further over the coming months," Staunovo said.

Bullion tends to shine during geopolitical tensions, economic risks, and a low interest rate environment. Markets are pricing in a 59.4% chance of a 25-basis-points cut at the Fed's December meeting, per the CME Fedwatch tool.

However, "if Fed skips or pauses its rate cut in December, that will be negative for gold prices and we could see some pullback," said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ.

The Chicago Federal Reserve president reiterated his support for further US interest rate cuts on Thursday.

On Friday, spot silver rose 1.8% to $31.34 per ounce, platinum eased 0.1% to $960.13 and palladium fell 0.6% to $1,023.55. All three metals were on track for a weekly rise.