Saudi PIF Transfers Stakes in Food, Farm Companies to SALIC

Saudi PIF Transfers Stakes in Food, Farm Companies to SALIC
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Saudi PIF Transfers Stakes in Food, Farm Companies to SALIC

Saudi PIF Transfers Stakes in Food, Farm Companies to SALIC

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) said Thursday that it has transferred its stakes in Almarai, the National Agricultural Development Co and the Saudi Fisheries Co to Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co (SALIC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the PIF.

The transfer is aimed at leveraging synergies within its food and agriculture portfolio and enabling SALIC to stimulate growth in the sector, the PIF said in a statement on Thursday.

SALIC has extensive experience in managing food and agriculture investments, which contributes to food security in the kingdom.

The transfer is also expected to enable PIF to utilize SALIC’s strategic partnerships, technological and logistical capabilities to attain this stability.

The transfer announcement comes in line with PIF’s Strategy 2021-2025, which focuses on unlocking the capabilities of promising non-oil sectors to enhance the Kingdom's efforts to diversify revenue sources, including in the food and agriculture sector.

The Fund and its subsidiaries aim to contribute SAR1.2 trillion to non-oil GDP cumulatively by the end of 2025, through growth opportunities for strategic and vital sectors in the Kingdom.

Earlier this month, the PIF signed a $15 billion multi-currency revolving credit facility with a group of 17 banks, which it said gives it access to extra capital that can be deployed quickly when needed.

The new loan was provided by 17 banks from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, the PIF said in a statement.



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.