Int'l Roadmap to Rehabilitate Sudanese Economy

Customers look on as a vendor displays the fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Customers look on as a vendor displays the fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
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Int'l Roadmap to Rehabilitate Sudanese Economy

Customers look on as a vendor displays the fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Customers look on as a vendor displays the fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Sudan has agreed a roadmap to "rehabilitate" the country in a trilateral agreement with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and African Development Bank.

The IMF revealed in a report in Dec. that “Economic conditions in Sudan remain challenging on the back of persistent fiscal deficits, high inflation, and low access to financing.”

“Bold and comprehensive reforms are needed to stabilize the economy and strengthen growth,” it added, noting that: “The expansion of social safety nets to support the reforms and improvements in the business environment and governance are crucial to unlocking growth.”

The report continued: “In 2018, economic activity contracted by an estimated 2.3 percent and GDP is projected to contract by 2.5 percent in 2019. Inflation increased to 60 percent in November 2019.

Representative of the World Bank stated that the aim of the visit was to achieve economic development in Sudan to integrate into the global markets, the International Monetary Fund, and the African Development Bank on a roadmap for the rehabilitation of the country.

Minister of Industry and Trade Madani Abbas Madani stressed the importance of the steps taken by the state in boosting confidence in the markets, achieving development, increasing production, protecting the investor, and developing the industrial and marketing sector through a clear strategic plan.



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.