Energy, Metal Companies Eyeing Public Offering in Saudi Arabia 

The Future Minerals Forum ended its work in Riyadh with the signing of more than 60 agreements. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Future Minerals Forum ended its work in Riyadh with the signing of more than 60 agreements. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Energy, Metal Companies Eyeing Public Offering in Saudi Arabia 

The Future Minerals Forum ended its work in Riyadh with the signing of more than 60 agreements. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Future Minerals Forum ended its work in Riyadh with the signing of more than 60 agreements. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Energy and mineral companies expressed intentions to expand and move towards public offering and listing in the financial market as the Future Minerals Forum concluded in Riyadh on Thursday, with the signing of 60 agreements and MoUs.  

The event was held with the participation of 200 speakers and more than 12,000 participants, including investment leaders, heads of major mining companies, experts, service providers, and manufacturers from 130 countries. 

The conference witnessed the signing of 60 agreements and MoUs in the field of mining and minerals industry between a number of participating government agencies, companies and institutions.  

They included agreements in mineral exploration, technology, communications, application of sustainability standards, localization and qualification, and industrialization in the mining sector.  

The event also saw an announcement by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the Arab Mining Company (Maaden) to establish a joint virtual center for research and development in mining technologies.  

The virtual center will be located within KACST’s headquarters, and will work to identify the areas required to implement joint research in mining technologies.  

Meanwhile, Bloomberg agency quoted sources as saying that Petromin - a global Saudi company specialized in the manufacture and production of oils, fuel provision and automotive services - plans to revive plans for its initial public offering in the Kingdom.  

Quoting sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the agency revealed that the company was working with Saudi National Bank and Moelis & Co. on the planned offering. Details of the deal, such as its size and timing, may change, according to the sources, who noted that more banks might also be added to the syndicate. 

Khalid Al-Jahdali, CEO of Al Haytham Mining Company, revealed that the company was planning an imminent offering in the Saudi financial market, explaining that it was awaiting the completion of a relevant study by the financial advisor. 



US Job Growth Slowed Sharply in October amid Steady Unemployment Rate

A worker transports items during Cyber Monday at the Amazon fulfillment center in Robbinsville Township in New Jersey, US (Reuters/File)
A worker transports items during Cyber Monday at the Amazon fulfillment center in Robbinsville Township in New Jersey, US (Reuters/File)
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US Job Growth Slowed Sharply in October amid Steady Unemployment Rate

A worker transports items during Cyber Monday at the Amazon fulfillment center in Robbinsville Township in New Jersey, US (Reuters/File)
A worker transports items during Cyber Monday at the Amazon fulfillment center in Robbinsville Township in New Jersey, US (Reuters/File)

US job growth likely slowed sharply in October amid disruptions from hurricanes and strikes by aerospace factory workers, but a steady unemployment rate should offer assurance that the labor market remained on solid footing ahead of Tuesday's election.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that nonfarm payrolls increased by 12,000 in October from the previous month, after employment in September shot up by 223,000 jobs.
A Reuters survey of economists showed that nonfarm payrolls likely increased by 113,000 jobs last month after surging 254,000 in September. Estimates ranged from no jobs added to 200,000 positions created. October's anticipated payrolls count would be the smallest in six months.
Hurricane Helene devastated the Southeast in late September and Hurricane Milton lashed Florida a week later.
The Labor Department reported last week that there were 41,400 new workers on strike, including 33,000 machinists at Boeing and 5,000 at Textron, an aircraft company, when employers were surveyed for October's employment report. The remaining 3,400 were workers at three hotel chains in California and Hawaii.
Workers who do not receive a paycheck during the survey period, which includes the 12th day of the month, are counted as unemployed in the survey of establishments from which the payrolls number is calculated.
The Labor Department's closely watched employment report is the last major economic data before Americans head to the polls to choose Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican former President Donald Trump as the country's next president.
Polls show the race is a toss-up. Americans have not warmed up to the economy's strong performance, which has outshined its global peers, rankled by high prices for food and rents. Low layoffs have been the hallmark of the labor market's strength.
The unemployment rate was seen unaffected by the distortions as the striking workers would be counted as employed in the household survey from which the rate is derived. Workers unable to work because of bad weather would be reported as employed, “with a job, but not at work” as per the BLS' classification.
Economists said a marginal rise in the unemployment rate would not be alarming and expected the Federal Reserve to sort through the noise and cut interest rates by 25 basis points next Thursday.
A rise in the unemployment rate to 4.3% in July from 3.8% in March was one of the catalysts for the US central bank's unusually large half-percentage-point interest rate cut in September, the first reduction in borrowing costs since 2020.
The Fed's policy rate is now set in the 4.75%-5.00% range, having been hiked by 525 basis points in 2022 and 2023.
Though employers have pulled back on hiring, they are retaining their workers, underpinning wage gains and consumer spending.
Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% last month after gaining 0.3% in September. They were likely lifted by hourly paid workers dropping out of the payrolls calculation.
Wages increased 4.0% in the 12 months through October after advancing 3.9% in September.