BEIJING: China’s Commerce Ministry said on Monday that China would sharply reduce restrictions on foreign investment access in 2017.
China will also step up opening up of sectors where foreign companies have strong investment interest and risks are under control, the ministry said on its microblog. No details were given on what restrictions will be changed.
Outbound investment
China’s non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) is likely to hit 1.12 trillion yuan ($161.19 billion) in 2016 and foreign direct investment into China will total 785 billion yuan, Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said on Monday.
The government will “promote the healthy and orderly development of outbound investment and cooperation” in 2017, Gao said in remarks at a conference that were published on the ministry’s website.
China’s ODI in November jumped 76.5 percent from a year earlier and it rose 55.3 percent in the first 11 months of 2016, the ministry’s data showed, as local firms continued to invest abroad amid a slowing economy and weakening yuan.
Earlier this month, China published draft foreign investment guidelines, which it said would “increase openness to the outside world.”
Based on Gao’s forecasts, non-financial ODI is set to surpass foreign direct investment into China by an unprecedented 335 billion yuan this year, amid worries about capital outflows.
For all of 2015, the ministry reported non-financial ODI of 735.1 billion yuan, and FDI of 781.4 billion yuan.
Gao said that in 2017, difficulties faced in maintaining a stable flow of foreign investment into China will increase, while sources of volatility for China’s outbound investment will rise along with risks, according to an interview with state media published Monday.
Beijing has announced a string of measures recently to tighten controls on money moving out of the country, including closer scrutiny of outbound investments, as the yuan skids and the country’s foreign exchange reserves fall to the lowest levels in nearly six years.
China will further enhance the competitiveness of its foreign trade and consolidate recent good momentum, Gao added.
No tax on carbon emissions
China has passed a law that levies taxes on pollution, but ignores carbon dioxide, one of the major contributors to global warming, according to the web site of the country’s highest legislative body.
The National People’s Congress (NPC) standing committee passed the law, the first to tax polluters, on Sunday, less than a fortnight after a red alert for smog left more than 20 cities in the country’s northeast choking under a heavy haze.
Polluters will be charged for contributing to air, water and noise pollution, according to a copy of the legislation on the NPC’s official web site.
But CO2 did not make the list, which includes air and water pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and sulfite, taxed at rates beginning at 1.2 yuan ($0.17) and 1.4 yuan ($0.20) per unit respectively.
It also stipulates a monthly tax ranging from 350 to 11,200 yuan ($50 to $1612) for noise pollution.
The Environment Tax Law will come into effect on January 1, 2018. China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, due to its heavy reliance on coal to provide electricity to its population of 1.37 billion. The fuel has also contributed to the country’s severe smog problem.
Last week, cities across China’s northeast went on “red alert” for air pollution, triggering an emergency response that included taking large numbers of cars off the road and closing some factories.
The crisis also spurred a call by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the country to develop clean energy sources in order to reduce smog, Xinhua reported.
China to reduce restrictions on foreign investment access in 2017
China to reduce restrictions on foreign investment access in 2017
Saudi Central Bank lowers benchmark rate by 25 bps following US Fed decision
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s central bank has implemented its second interest rate reduction of 2024, lowering the benchmark by 25 basis points to 5.25 percent.
This adjustment mirrors the recent US Federal Reserve decision, which also cut rates by the same amount to a target of 4.5 - 4.75 percent.
In a statement, the central bank – also known as SAMA – said: “In light of global developments, and in accordance with the Central Bank’s objective of maintaining monetary stability, it has decided to reduce the Repurchase Agreement rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 percent, and the Reverse Repurchase Agreement rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 percent.”
Unlike the higher September cut of 50 basis points, this move is a strategic recalibration of monetary policy, aimed at easing high borrowing costs that have been sustained to combat inflation over the past two years.
Gulf Cooperation Council central banks align interest rates with the US Federal Reserve due to their currency pegs to the dollar, despite having stable inflation rates.
Both the UAE and Bahrain reduced rates by 25 basis points, while Qatar opted for a slightly larger 30-point cut.
Kuwait, however, took a different approach. Its central bank, which pegs its currency to a basket, rather than exclusively to the dollar, lowered rates by 25 basis points in September to 4 percent but did not announce further cuts in November as of date.
Over the past two years, the US Federal Reserve has aggressively tightened its monetary policy to tackle inflation, driving up interest rates in an effort to bring prices down.
Although inflation has made progress toward the Fed’s 2 percent target, it remains slightly elevated, and high costs persist for consumers.
The labor market has shown signs of cooling, with unemployment inching up but still at low levels. The Fed’s ongoing challenge is balancing inflation control with the need to maintain a healthy, resilient job market.
The decision to cut interest rates could have far-reaching implications for the GCC, particularly for Saudi Arabia’s economy.
The Kingdom’s non-oil sectors, already a key focus under Vision 2030, stand to benefit significantly from the influx of cheaper credit.
Sectors such as construction, real estate, and services, which have seen substantial growth, are expected to experience further acceleration.
Lower borrowing costs could spur investments in infrastructure and technology, both vital to the Kingdom’s diversification away from oil.
Corporate lending is also expected to see a boost, with businesses, especially in capital-intensive industries like real estate, poised to take advantage of more affordable financing.
This could translate into more ambitious expansion plans, particularly for projects aligned with Vision 2030 goals, such as NEOM and the Red Sea Project.
The real estate market in particular could see a further surge as cheaper credit fuels demand for housing.
Riyadh’s growing population and influx of expatriates are likely to drive this trend, with lower interest rates making mortgages more affordable.
Oil Updates – prices fall as Hurricane Rafael expected to start weakening
SINGAPORE: Oil prices fell slightly on Friday as the risk that a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico will significantly affect US oil and gas output declined, while the market weighs how President-elect Donald Trump’s policies might affect supplies.
Brent crude oil futures fell 47 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $75.16 per barrel by 7:46 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 55 cents or 0.8 percent to $71.81. The benchmarks fell after rising nearly 1 percent on Thursday.
For the week, Brent is set to gain 3.1 percent while WTI is set to rise 4.1 percent
Hurricane Rafael, which has caused 391,214 barrels per day of US crude oil production to be shut, is expected to move slowly westward over the Gulf of Mexico and away from US fields while forecast to weaken from Friday and through the weekend, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Prices gained support on Thursday on expected actions by the incoming Trump administration such as tighter sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, which could limit their supply to global markets.
“Our core view sees Trump adopt a relatively pragmatic approach to policy, in which he either chooses not to pursue more radical policy shifts, or is held back by institutional constraints or the influence of more moderate policy advisers,” BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said in a note on Friday.
Downward pressure came from data showing crude imports in China, the world’s biggest oil importer, fell 9 percent in October, the sixth consecutive month showing a year-on-year decline, as well as from a rise in US crude inventories.
“The impact (of the Trump administration) on oil market fundamentals in 2025 will likely be somewhat limited,” BMI said.
Closing Bell: GCC stock markets up in wake of Trump’s election win
RIYADH: Following Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, stock markets across the Gulf Cooperation Council saw a strong rally.
Markets posted gains, with Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index finishing 0.31 percent up to close at 12,130.80 points on Thursday. This came after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Trump on winning the election in a phone call on Wednesday, according to the Saudi News Agency.
Dubai’s Financial Market mirrored the upward momentum, climbing 0.60 percent. Abu Dhabi’s Securities Exchange also saw a lift, finishing the day up 0.44 percent.
Bahrain’s Bourse recorded a rise of 0.52 percent, while Kuwait’s main market similarly rose, closing with a 0.10 percent gain.
However, the Muscat Securities Market in Oman saw a 0.17 percent decrease, while the Qatar Stock Exchange was closed for a public holiday.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index on TASI was SR7.53 billion ($2 billion) as 113 of the listed stocks advanced, while 111 retreated.
Similarly, the MSCI Tadawul Index increased by 2.03 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 1,521.79.
The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also climbed by 415.36 points, or 1.44 percent, to close at 29,269.00. This comes as 49 of the listed stocks advanced while as many as 22 retreated.
The best-performing stock of the day was Rasan Information Technology Co., whose share price surged by 7.13 percent to SR78.10.
Other top performers include Miahona Co., and Theeb Rent a Car Co., with Miahona’s share price climbing 6.75 percent to SR29.25 and Theeb’s rising 6.59 percent to SR79.30.
Naseej International Trading Co. and Al Moammar Information Systems Co. also posted rises.
The worst performer was Saudi Arabian Mining Co., whose share price dropped by 4.09 percent to SR53.90.
Other worst performers were Abdulmohsen Alhokair Group for Tourism and Development, whose share price fell by 3.18 percent to SR2.74, and ACWA Power Co., which saw a 2.95 percent drop to SR441.20.
On an announcement front, ACWA Power Co. announced its results for interim financial results for the first nine months of 2024, ending on Sept. 30, with revenues surging by 13.3 percent to reach SR1.74 billion, compared to SR1.542 billion in 2023.
The increase was primarily driven by higher revenue from electricity sales, operation and maintenance services, and additional income from development projects and construction management, the company said on Tadawul.
BinDawood Holding Co. also disclosed its financial results for the third quarter, with revenues slightly increasing by 0.189 percent to reach SR1.361 compared to the same quarter last year.
The company closed Thursday’s trading session at SR7.02, a 0.29 percent increase.
Saudi Steel Pipe Co. also released its financial results for the nine months of the year, recording SR381 million in revenues, a 20.18 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The company closed today’s trading session at SR71.40, decreasing by 1.27 percent.
The United International Transportation Co. disclosed a 37.052 percent increase in revenues for the first nine months to reach SR505.8 million, compared to SR369.07 million during the same period last year.
This was primarily driven by the expansion of a long-term lease fleet and the resulting higher lease revenues.
The company closed at SR84, with its stock valie declining by 1.55 percent.
ACWA Power reports 16% profit increase amid record project launches
RIYADH: ACWA Power, the Saudi-listed energy and water desalination company, has announced a 16 percent increase in its profits for the first nine months of 2024, underpinned by significant progress in its power and water production projects.
For the period, ACWA Power’s net profit attributable to equity holders reached SR1.25 billion ($334 million), a rise fueled by a 12.5 percent increase in operating income, which reached SR2.36 billion.
This marks a strong improvement from the same period in 2023. According to a company press release, the growth was primarily driven by an investment gain from the restructuring of a project, alongside a capital recycling gain.
ACWA Power’s CEO, Marco Arcelli, highlighted the company’s commitment to growth, noting that its portfolio now includes 26 projects — the largest in its 20-year history.
“These projects reflect both the speed at which we are realizing our growth, through swift financial closes, and the scale of future cash flows from a diverse and young portfolio,” Arcelli said.
He reiterated the company’s focus on providing reliable, cost-effective energy and water, aiming to create positive impacts across all its operations.
Over the past nine months, ACWA Power successfully achieved financial closure on seven major projects worth SR31 billion. These include Saudi Arabia’s Taiba and Qassim Combined Cycle Gas Turbine projects, the Tashkent Solar PV project in Uzbekistan, and the Hassyan Seawater Reverse Osmosis plant in the UAE.
The company’s expansion in power generation is also evident, having added 2.4 GW of capacity during the same period, including the Ar Rass Solar PV project, a 700 MW solar plant that was completed in just 18 months.
On the renewable energy front, ACWA Power secured a 5 GW Power Purchase Agreement for the Aral Wind project in Uzbekistan, as well as 5.5 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity as part of Saudi Arabia’s fourth round of Public Investment Fund projects.
In water desalination, the company signed a Water Purchase Agreement for the 410,000 cubic meters per day Hamriyah Independent Water Project in the UAE.
Abdulhameed Al-Muhaidib, ACWA Power’s Chief Financial Officer, expressed confidence in the company’s future, stating, “In the first nine months of 2024, we saw strong project mobilization, achieving financial closure on seven projects worth SR31 billion. We also began generating revenue from 2.2 GW of projects that reached partial or full commercial operation.”
He added: “Our diversified asset base, visible growth pipeline, and resilient business model, combined with our focus on operational excellence, give us confidence in achieving sustainable, long-term financial performance.”
UAE banking sector’s net international reserves grow 11% by July 2024
RIYADH: The UAE’s banking sector saw a significant increase in its net international reserves, which rose by 11.1 percent— or 127.5 billion dirhams ($34.3 billion) — during the first seven months of 2024.
By the end of July, the reserves totaled 1.273 trillion dirhams, up from 1.145 trillion dirhams at the close of 2023.
According to the Central Bank of the UAE’s June statistical bulletin, the central bank’s share of these reserves stood at 771.6 billion dirhams at the end of July, reflecting a 14.6 percent increase compared to 673.42 billion dirhams at the end of 2023. Meanwhile, the net international reserves of banks operating in the UAE amounted to 501.6 billion dirhams, marking a 6.22 percent rise from 472.2 billion dirhams at the end of last year.
The bulletin also highlighted a notable increase in the central bank’s gold reserves, which grew by 23.5 percent year on year to 21.28 billion dirhams by July’s end, up from 17.226 billion dirhams in July 2023. Over the first seven months of 2024, gold reserves increased by 17.3 percent, from 18.147 billion dirhams at the close of 2023.
In terms of banking operations, the value of transfers processed through the UAE Financial Transfer System exceeded 11.13 trillion dirhams during the first seven months of 2024, reflecting a 17 percent year-on-year growth from 9.5 trillion dirhams in the same period in 2023.
Monthly remittance values were as follows: 1.512 trillion dirhams in January, 1.449 trillion dirhams in February, 1.565 trillion dirhams in March, 1.592 trillion dirhams in April, 1.78 trillion dirhams in May, 1.42 trillion dirhams in June, and 1.81 trillion dirhams in July.
Additionally, the central bank’s data revealed that the value of cheques cleared via image technology totaled 765.08 billion dirhams across more than 13 million cheques during the first seven months of 2024.
The bulletin also showed that cash deposits at the central bank reached 111.4 billion dirhams during the period, while cash withdrawals totaled 120.3 billion dirhams.
