Latest News
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Joblessness amongst Saudi citizens edges approximately 7.8% in Q3
Joblessness among Saudi people edged approximately 7.8% in the third quarter, according to federal government approximates released on Tuesday, even as government efforts at reform enhanced involvement rates in the labour force. Job creation, specifically in a broadened private sector, is a. essential focus of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's Vision 2030. economic improvement programme, which looks for to stimulate the. economy and diversify it away from hydrocarbons. Efforts to reform the labour market, stimulate personal. sector growth and investment and gradually loosen some social. limitations have all improved the work force, with a marked. boost in female employees. The third-quarter unemployment numbers represent a boost. from 7.1% in the previous quarter, information from the General. Authority for Stats revealed, but are below 8.8% in the. same duration a year earlier. The total rate of unemployment, which includes migrant. employees, likewise rose to 3.7% in the 3rd quarter from 3.3% in Q2,. however was lower than 4.2% in 2023. Female participation in the labour force stood at 36.2% in. the quarter, up from 35.4% a year ago. Unemployment amongst ladies also rose in the exact same quarter to. 13.6%, higher than the 12.8% in the previous quarter however down. 3 percentage points year on the year. More than 60% of the population is under the age of 30. According to the most recent information, 95.6% of jobless Saudi people. want to accept task deals in the economic sector.
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China issues 2025 unrefined quota to Sinochem, company official says
Staterun Sinochem Group has actually gotten a petroleum import quota of 17.12 million metric heaps for 2025, which will be for the group's eastern China refineries, a company authorities said on Tuesday. The issue, which equates to 342,400 barrels daily, is part of the broad 2025 quotas allocated to the country's independent refiners. Traders said the quota suggests Sinochem's 3 Shandong province refineries, stated insolvent and with operations shut in, might resume operations. Weaker fuel need has deteriorated margins for refiners who are processing less crude than the year before. Reuters reported last month that Sinochem might keep the refineries after an auction to offer the assets drew bit interest. Independently, state-run CNOOC likewise got 3 million tons of unrefined import quota for its majority controlled subsidiary refinery in east China's Ningbo, according to numerous traders and consultancy China Sublime Info. The allocated total up to Sinochem and CNOOC bring the total 2025 petroleum quotas up until now to 178.45 million tons, or about 3.57 million bpd. China is the world's most significant oil importer and second-largest customer. Last year's total crude import quota was 182.69 million loads, or 3.65 million bpd. (1 metric load = 7.3 barrels)
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Oil increases on broadening Chinese factory activity, but set to end year lower
Oil rates rose on Tuesday after data showed China's production activity broadened in December, but they are on track to end lower for a second successive year due to demand concerns in top consuming nations. Brent crude futures increased 60 cents, or 0.8%, to $ 74.59 a barrel as of 0530 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude acquired 62 cents, or 0.9%, to $71.61 a barrel. For the year, Brent declined 3.2%, while WTI was down 0.1%. China's production activity broadened for a third straight month in December however at a slower pace, an official factory survey revealed on Tuesday, recommending a blitz of fresh stimulus is assisting to support the world's second-largest economy. Chinese authorities have actually likewise agreed to issue a record 3 trillion yuan ($ 411 billion) in unique treasury bonds in 2025 to restore financial growth, Reuters reported last week. A weaker need outlook in China has required both the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the International Energy Company (IEA) to cut their oil demand expectations for 2025. OPEC and its allies earlier this month postponed their strategy to begin raising output until April 2025 against a backdrop of falling prices. The IEA expects international oil supply to surpass need in 2025 even if OPEC+ cuts remain in place, as increasing production from the United States and other outside manufacturers outmatches sluggish demand. While a weak longer-term need outlook has actually weighed on rates, they might find short-term support from declining U.S. crude stockpiles, which are anticipated to have actually fallen by about 3 million barrels recently. Both Brent and WTI were buoyed by a larger-than-expected drawdown from U.S. unrefined inventories in the week ended Dec. 20 as refiners ramped up activity and the holiday season enhanced fuel demand. Financier focus next year will be on the Federal Reserve's. rate path after the reserve bank earlier this month forecasted. simply two rate cuts, down from 4 in September, due to. stubbornly high inflation. Lower rates of interest generally incentivise loaning and. fuel growth, which in turn is expected to boost oil need, The moving expectations around U.S. rates and the widening. rates of interest differentials between the United States and the. other economies have actually lifted the dollar and weighed on other. currencies. A stronger dollar makes purchases of oil more costly for. customers outside the United States, weighing on demand. Markets are also getting ready for President-elect Donald. Trump's policies around looser policy, tax cuts, tariff. hikes and tighter migration that are anticipated to be both. pro-growth and inflationary - and eventually dollar-positive.
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Cocoa tops global products rally for second year, steel components battle on China need
Cocoa and coffee are poised to close 2024 as the biggest gainers among commodities for a 2nd year on an international supply deficit, while steelmaking coal will end as the worst performer, hit by slow growth in China. Looking ahead, global trade stress are most likely to control the commodities landscape in 2025 as Donald Trump goes back to the White Home threatening substantial tariffs, experts said. A strong dollar and gold's appeal as a safe haven for financiers are likely to support rare-earth elements rates, while adequate supply could depress oil for a 3rd year, they included. In bad news for chocolate enthusiasts, cocoa almost tripled in cost over 2024, far outmatching gains in other commodities. It hit a record high of $12,931 a metric lot in New York previously this month on forecasts of lower supply for a fourth succeeding season in West Africa following dry weather condition. The softs sector, led by cocoa and coffee, has been the main winner amid adverse weather in crucial growing areas, highlighting the threat to prices when products like these are produced and sourced from reasonably little geographical areas, said Ole Hansen, head of product strategy at Saxo Bank in Copenhagen. Leading cocoa manufacturers Ivory Coast and Ghana have actually suffered crop losses due to adverse weather, bean disease, smuggling and lowered plantations in favour of prohibited gold mining. Dryness has actually strained coffee supplies as well. ICE Arabica coffee costs skyrocketed to their highest in more than 40 years in the middle of worries that serious drought earlier this year harmed the upcoming crop in leading producer Brazil. CHINA GROWTH CONCERNS HIT OIL, IRON ORE Petroleum and bulk metals dealt with headwinds in 2024 as China, the world's second-biggest economy and leading commodities buyer, had a hard time generally due to a property crisis. Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude could post a 3rd consecutive yearly decline in 2025 as supply outstrips a rebound in need growth, analysts stated, although Trump's policies on significant manufacturers Russia and Iran might suppress supply. Spare capability in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reached an extraordinary 5 million barrels daily (bpd), analysts approximated, with the group having extended production cuts to March. The bleak inventory path next year recommends that OPEC+ will be challenged to revive barrels into the marketplace, Harry Tchilinguirian, head of research at Onyx Capital Group, stated in a note. Iron ore prices in China recouped some losses in recent months however are still headed for a 15% decline in 2024. Prices could fall again next year as iron ore supply grows and Chinese steel need falls, experts said, in spite of Beijing's. stimulus procedures. We anticipate the increase in iron ore supply from major miners. will be higher than that in 2024, however steel output in China will. likely slide, Pei Hao, senior analyst at brokerage Freight. Financier Services, said, forecasting a typical price of $100 a. lot in 2025, below an average of $110 in 2024. Gold and silver increased more than 25% in 2024 and. might climb further in the year ahead depending upon the U.S. Federal Reserve's rates of interest cuts and Trump's tariff, tax and. diplomacies, analysts said. Gold is the standout for us in 2025, ING's head of. commodity research Warren Patterson stated, including that strong. gold purchases by reserve banks will support need. Copper and aluminium prices are set to end. 2024 higher, driven by tight materials, the energy shift and. hopes that China's stimulus steps will enhance demand. PALM OIL, RUBBER AND GRAINS For farming products, Malaysian palm oil futures. jumped around 20% in 2024, snapping two successive. years of losses, lifted by Indonesia's biodiesel mandate and. adverse weather condition in Indonesia and Malaysia. Crop-threatening weather condition also drove a 42% gain in Tokyo. rubber futures. In contrast, soybeans, corn and wheat were. in numerous supply, all on track for losses in 2024. Nevertheless,. wheat costs could discover some support in 2025 as warmer weather condition. in Russia, the most significant exporter, threatens to lower output. Leading soybean exporter Brazil is poised to provide record. supplies in 2025, positioning it to satisfy a rise in Chinese. demand if a Washington-Beijing trade war appears.
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Petrobras Hires Seadrill’s Drillship Pair for Brazil Ops
Petrobras has awarded contracts to Seadrill’s two ultra-deepwater drillships – West Jupiter and West Tellus – for work offshore Brazil.West Jupiter has been hired under a 1,095-day contract, following a competitive tender process. The contract will contribute approximately $493 million to Seadrill’s order backlog, including additional services and excluding a mobilization fee of $31.5 million.The drilling program in Brazil is expected to start in the first quarter of 2026.Seadrill has also secured secured a 1,095-day contract for its West Tellus drillship, which will be deployed for work at the Sépia and Atapu fields in the Santos Basin.The contract will boost Seadrill’s backlog with $498 million, including additional services and excluding a mobilization fee of $41 million.The program is expected to start in the first quarter of 2026 and includes an optional period of up to 305 additional days. Petrobras holds a 65.7% stake in the shared Atapu field, a 55.3% stake in the shared Sépia field and is the Operator in both areas.“This contract and the recently announced award for West Jupiter deepens our relationship with a key customer at the heart of the deepwater market. These fixtures provide approximately $1 billion of additional backlog and a meaningful uplift to earnings and free cash flow beginning in 2026,” said Simon Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Seadrill.
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Base metals trade mixed as favorable China data counters strong dollar
Base metals were mixed on Tuesday, the last trading session of 2024, as favorable China factory activity data countered pressure from a stronger U.S. dollar. China's production activity broadened for a third straight month in December but at a slower rate, an official factory survey revealed, recommending fresh stimulus steps are supporting the world's second-largest economy. The dollar stayed strong and was set for substantial gains in 2024 as financiers anticipated less U.S. rate cuts next year and brand-new policies from the incoming Trump administration. Rising U.S. Treasury yields have been an increase for the dollar, with the key 10-year note hitting a more than seven-month high last week. A more powerful dollar makes it more pricey for holders of other currencies to purchase greenback-priced commodities. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose 0.3% to $8,934 per metric ton by 0200 GMT. It has actually increased 4.38% so far this year. With the year's end approaching, copper usage is trending lower seasonally, while stocks have increased slightly, analysts at Jinrui Futures stated. On a week-on-week basis, copper inventories in SHFE warehouses climbed up 4.7% to 74,172 lots on Dec. 27. Nevertheless, the level was the lowest seen in the previous 10 months. The most-traded January copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) moved 0.5% to 73,810 yuan ($ 10,115.39) a lot. LME aluminium was relatively unchanged at $2,551 a. ton, nickel edged up 0.3% to $15,465, zinc. gained 0.2% to $3,024, tin was down 0.3% at $29,200,. while lead was 0.1% lower at $1,946. SHFE aluminium slipped 0.1% to 19,765 yuan a heap,. nickel fell 0.2% to 124,190 yuan, zinc fell. 0.2% to 25,250 yuan, lead slid 0.6% to 16,730 yuan, and. tin edged up 0.6% at 246,180 yuan. For the top stories in metals and other news, click. or
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Turkey treks fuel tax by 6%, intends to manage inflation
Turkey imposed a 6% tax walking on fuel on Tuesday, after its finance minister stated over the weekend that tax moves on fuel and tobacco would not impact the government's inflation goal. The unique intake tax per litre for fuel has actually been increased by around 6%, according to a presidential decree in the Official Gazette, which releases brand-new legislation and main announcements. The special consumption tax on fuel is changed every six months based on the manufacturer price index. With the 5-month cumulative PPI because the last boost standing at 7.12%, the most current tax walking is listed below the index. Authorities will reveal an upgrade on the PPI on Jan. 3, when it is commonly expected to increase. Fuel taxes usually have a major impact on inflation. However Financing Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Sunday that tax hikes for fuel and tobacco in the New Year will be set in a method that does not impact the nation's 2025 inflation outlook. Turkish annual inflation stood at 47.1% in November, greater than anticipated but at its most affordable level considering that mid-2023. A Reuters survey projection that it will ease to 26.5% by end-2025, but greater than a reserve bank prediction of 21%.
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Oil increases on broadening Chinese factory activity, but set to end year lower
Oil costs increased in early trade on Tuesday after information showed China's production activity broadened in December, but for a second successive year oil was on track to end lower due to demand concerns in top consuming nations. Brent unrefined futures rose 47 cents, or 0.7%, to $ 74.46 a barrel since 0130 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 49 cents, also 0.7%, to $71.48 a barrel. For the year, Brent declined 3.2%, while WTI was down 0.6%. China's production activity broadened for a third straight month in December but at a slower pace, a main factory study revealed on Tuesday, suggesting a blitz of fresh stimulus is assisting to support the world's second-largest economy. Chinese authorities have actually also agreed to provide a record 3 trillion yuan ($ 411 billion) in unique treasury bonds in 2025 to revive economic development, Reuters reported last week. While a weak longer-term need outlook has actually weighed on costs, they could discover short-term assistance from decreasing U.S. crude stockpiles, which are expected to have fallen by about 3 million barrels last week. Both Brent and WTI were buoyed by a larger-than-expected drawdown from U.S. unrefined inventories in the week ended Dec. 20 as refiners ramped up activity and the holiday improved fuel need.
Turkey's Erdogan hosts Greek PM, sees 'no unsolvable issues' in bilateral ties
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during talks in Ankara on Monday that there were no unsolvable problems between their countries.
Turkey and Greece, NATO allies and historical foes, have long been at odds over issues consisting of maritime borders, energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, flights over the Aegean Sea, and ethnically split Cyprus.
After years of stress that brought the 2 to the brink of conflict, they have begun taking prominent actions to improve ties, particularly since both leaders were re-elected in 2015.
Regardless of arguments, we concentrate on a positive agenda by keeping our dialogue channels open, Erdogan told a joint press conference with Mitsotakis.
Mitsotakis stated the leaders' regular meetings in recent months had showed that we neighbours can develop an approach of good understanding, not as an exception however as an efficient normality.
We revealed today that together with our shown disputes, we can chart a parallel page of contracts, he added.
Erdogan visited Athens last December and the 2 countries signed the Statement of Athens focused on setting the base for a roadmap to rebooting relations.
They accepted increase trade, keep interaction channels open, carry out military confidence-building measures to minimize tensions, and work on issues that have kept them apart.
The 2 leaders disagreed over how to categorize the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Erdogan restated his
view
that it is a resistance movement and stated he was saddened by the Greek view - shared by numerous other Western countries - that it is a terrorist organisation.
Let's consent to disagree, Mitsotakis
responded.
' EXTRAORDINARY HEIGHTS'
On Sunday, Mitsotakis informed Turkish daily Milliyet that his visit to Ankara - the very first in 5 years - was a chance to evaluate development and to reiterate Athens' dedication to enhancing ties.
Erdogan, speaking to Greek daily Kathimerini on Sunday, said the main goal was to raise the level of our bilateral relations to unmatched heights, adding the neighbours had many issues they might settle on while looking for services to their problems.
However, the allies remain at loggerheads over numerous concerns consisting of maritime jurisdiction.
Greece's strategy to develop a marine park in the Aegean, which it says is for environmental functions, has actually disturbed Turkey, while Athens was annoyed by Turkey's decision to turn the ancient Chora church, formerly a museum for decades, into a mosque.
(source: Reuters)