Aramco to raise USD 6 bn from bond sale

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Beijing wants more of PIF’s green investments

Good morning, friends. We’re sliding into the weekend with an Aramco-strong news cycle, with updates on both its secondary offering and its fresh bond issuance. We have chapter and verse on both stories and more in this morning’s news well, below.

WEATHER- Riyadh will see a daytime high of 46°C and a nighttime low of 33°C. In Makkah, the mercury will peak at 45°C during the day before dropping to 33°C at night. Meanwhile, Jeddah — the coolest of the three — is looking at a high of 39°C and a low of 33°C.

PSAs-

#1- Residents of Hittin, Al Nakheel, Al Aqeeq, and Al Ghadeer had their electricity fully restored after a power outage affected the areas earlier this week, the Saudi Electric Company said in a post on X. The Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority determined the outage was caused by an unaffiliated contractor damaging a main electrical transmission line while working on a public project, according to a statement.

#2- Outstanding Saudi law graduates can apply for the Center for Legal Studies and Research’s second Future Advisor Program, the center said on X. The 12-month program focuses on developing recent graduates’ skills in legal consultation and drafting through practical training by specialist advisors. The program also offers a monthly stipend and medical ins. for the trainee and their family, according to the state news agency (SPA).

Eligibility criteria: Applicants must be Saudi nationals, recent graduates from 2023-2024, with a bachelor’s degree in law and a minimum GPA of 3.75/5 or 2.75/4. They must be under 27 and have no more than six months of practical experience. Applicants must also be proficient in English, with the program requiring a minimum score of 4.5 in IELTS, 70 in STEP, or 460 in TOEFL or its equivalent. You can apply for the program here.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Beijing is urging the Public Investment Fund to expand its green investments in China, Reuters reports, citing China’s official Beijing Daily newspaper. China is looking to convince the PIF to increase its business activities in the Chinese capital, especially in the industrial investment, green development, and energy transition sectors, Beijing’s Mayor Yin Yong told PIF boss Yasir Al Rumayyan. The PIF governor said that Riyadh is interested in an ongoing collaboration with Beijing, particularly in sustainable development and renewable energy.

This comes as part of China’s diversification strategy: This appeal is part of Beijing's broader diplomatic strategy to enhance ties with countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa as a countermeasure to what China perceives as the US’ weaponization of economic policies, the news outlet added.

PIF has been active in China: The sovereign wealth fund has been eyeing a USD 250 mn stake in Chinese electric car manufacturer Human Horizons since last November. The fund also signed a Joint Development Agreement with Chinese solar PV manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology back in January 2023.

#2- Riyadh is set to be home to the tallest sports tower in the world, after plans for the Global Sports Tower — a prime attraction at the Sports Boulevard megaproject — were approved by the board of the Sports Boulevard Foundation, which is chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, according to a statement.

About the Riyadh megaproject: Inspired by Salmani architectural style, Sports Boulevard — one of the capital’s megaprojects — is a large-scale linear park that aims to promote the capital to be among the world’s most liveable cities. It spans over 135 km on Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road to connect the capital’s east to the west through dedicated green pathways for athletes, cyclists, pedestrians and others.

#3- Saudia Group offers exclusive benefits to global HQs setting up shop here: National carrier Saudia Group and the Investment Ministry signed an MoU to offer exclusive benefits to drive global HQ relocations to the Kingdom, according to a press release. The benefits include access to Saudia flights, logistics support via Saudia Cargo, and premium aviation and concierge services through Saudia Private.

IN CONTEXT- Earlier this year, the government rolled out tax incentives for foreign companies that relocate their regional headquarters to the Kingdom — and state institutions are helping with the push. The incentives are part of a plan that is a cornerstone of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman’s drive to build a diversified, globally significant non-oil economy, and has been in the works since February 2021. Companies that don’t declare Saudi their regional HQ run the risk of losing out on government contracts.

ALSO FROM SAUDIA- The flagship carrier is reportedly close to formalizing a framework agreement with Germany-based air taxi developer Lilium to purchase some 100 flying air taxis, Reuters reported, citing a source it says was familiar with the agreement. Lilium plans to announce the order by Saudia at its headquarters near Munich on Thursday, 18 July. The framework agreement was signed in October 2022.

#4- Singapore-based customer support solution provider MyAlice opened its regional HQ in Riyadh under a partnership with Dubai-based business expansion platform Astrolabs, according to a statement. MyAlice aims to help local brands increase conversion rates, improve customer satisfaction, and achieve deeper visibility through its services, according to the statement.

#5- The Industry and Mineral Resources Ministry has released a guide covering sanctions for mining investment law violations, according to a post on X. The sanctions cover violations that include lateness in declaration submissions or fee payments, exploiting resources excluded from the scope of the license, and preventing inspectors from entering a site during official working hours.

#6- Google is offering USD 100k in research grants for artificial intelligence studies at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), to support KAUST researchers working on projects in multilingual and multimodal machine learning, as well as developing large language models, Gulf News reports. The research will be carried out at KAUST's new Centre of Excellence on Generative AI, and each awardee will be paired with a Google researcher who will act as their sponsor.

#7- Six pharmacies were fined SAR 45k for failing to report medicine shortages to health authorities, according to a Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) statement. Inspectors from the authority handed the fines to the pharmacies over failing to ensure the availability of a stock of medicines for the public and not reporting shortages to the authority.

It could have been worse: Under Saudi law, pharma establishments that fail to notify the SFDA of any expected shortage six months in advance could face fines of up to SAR 5 mn, a temporary closure of the establishment for a maximum of 180 days, or have their operation license revoked.

DATA POINTS-

Remittances from expats living in the Kingdom rose 12% y-o-y to SAR 12.6 bn in May, according to Saudi Central Bank’s (SAMA) monthly bulletin (pdf). Meanwhile, remittances by Saudi nationals to other countries rose 6% y-o-y to SAR 6.2 bn, according to Argaam.

OIL WATCH-

The Kingdom’s crude production dipped 0.8% m-o-m in June to 8.9 mn bbl / d in June, marking its third consecutive drop, according to the Opec Monthly Oil Market Report (pdf). Total OPEC crude production was down 0.3% m-o-m in June to 40.8 mn bbl / d.

The bigger picture: Opec kept its forecast for a robust global oil demand for 2024 and 2025 unchanged at 2.2 mn bbl / d and 1.8 mn bbl / d, according to the report. The forecasts come on the back of growing demand on transportation fuels during the summer. “Expected strong mobility and air travel in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer driving/holiday season is anticipated to bolster demand for transportation fuels and drive growth,” the report read.

SPORTS-

#1- The Saudi Pro League has dozens of suitors: More than 100 companies — including five to six that are fully-foreign owned — are showing interest in investing in the top flight of Saudi football, said Sports Minister Abdulaziz Bin Turki in an interview with podcast platform Thmanyah. The third phase of a privatization program will see a private offering to investors, the minister said. “Investors will be selected to join in the private offering,” he said, with the ministry currently working on the process.

REMEMBER- More sports clubs up for grabs: Some 14 football clubs from various divisions are set to go private in the second phase of a privatization program aimed at lining up investment in the industry, the Sports Ministry said earlier this month. Both domestic and foreign investors will be invited to bid in the sale process, which the ministry is running with the National Center for Privatization and Public-Private Partnerships.

#2- Amanda Staveley is set to exit Newcastle United and sell her shareholding to current owners the Public Investment Fund and the Reuben Brothers, Bloomberg reported, citing people it says are familiar with the matter. Staveley, who served as director of the club, is expected to sell her stake, which was lowered to 6% from 10% as part of the PIF’s takeover in the Premier League club in October 2021. Staveley, who helped architect the takeover, looks to be ending her three-year stint on The Magpies after having led it to the UEFA Champions League and the final of the Carabao Cup at Wembley.

More than acquainted: Staveley owns Abu Dhabi-based private equity firm PCP Capital Partners, which has been a key adviser to investors in the region. The firm has been involved in talks related to a potential merger between the PGA Tour and PIF-backed LIV Golf.

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

A handful of stories are making a splash on business front pages after a week dominated by election news — though Biden’s campaign is still getting attention.

#1- Archegos founder Bill Hwang was found guilty on charges of fraud and market manipulation after his investment fund wiped bns off the market after its collapse. Hwang stands to face 20 years in prison. (FT | Bloomberg | Reuters | CNBC)

Need a refresher on the 2021 meltdown? Long story short: The family office managed to hold USD 50 bn in positions while owning only USD 10 bn in assets, prompting Bulge Bracket banks to sell off their assets, leading to the fund’s implosion. EnterpriseAM broke it down at the time here.

#2- Apple is planning to ship 90 mn iPhone 16s in 2H 2024, marking a 10% y-o-y growth in shipments after a bumpy year marked by lackluster sales. The firm is counting on Apple Intelligence AI features to boost demand for the phones, Bloomberg said.

ALSO- Android users can expect a bigger-and-better Bixby later this year, which Samsung plans to upgrade using a South Korean AI large language model.

Your regularly scheduled dose of elections and politics news:

#1- Two high-level democrats and longtime allies of Biden — former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and actor George Clooney — are the latest to voice their doubts about his reelection.

Clooney wrote a damning opinion piece in the New York Times to say Biden is too old to run. “It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big F-ing deal' Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate,” he wrote.

Pelosi, meanwhile, said Biden needs to make a quick decision on his reelection, without flat out saying she doesn’t back him.

#2- Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, is set to name the chief negotiator on the 2015 nuclear agreement, Abbas Araghchi, as foreign minister — sending another signal that the new government will hope to end Iran’s nuclear stalemate with the West.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The eight-week Esports World Cup runs until Sunday, 25 August Riyadh’s Boulevard City. It will see the world’s best esports clubs competing for a pool of USD 60 mn — the largest purse in esports.

The 16 teams who passed the group stage of the ESports World Cup’s Riyadh Masters will face off from today through to next Sunday, 14 July. Only four will make it to the playoffs upper bracket and two will make it to the lower bracket.

Aramco is set to release its 1H 2024 results on Tuesday, 6 August, according to its website. You can tune into the earnings audio webcast here. Aramco posted a 14.4% y-o-y net income decrease in 1Q 2024 to SAR102.3 bn (USD 27.3 bn), and its revenues dipped 3.7% y-o-y to SAR 402.0 bn (USD 107.2 bn).

This year’s edition of security-focused expo Intersec Saudi Arabia will run from Tuesday, 1 October to Thursday, 3 October at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Aramco seeks to raise USD 6 bn from first bond sale since 2021

Aramco is set to raise USD 6 bn from its fresh USD-denominated bond offering, Reuters reports, citing a document by one of the sale’s arranging banks. Orders for the three-tranche bond offering by investors topped USD 31.5 bn, luring in USD 11 bn for each of the 10-year tranche and the 30-year tranche, with the 40-year tranche drawing in over USD 9.5 bn in demand. This is the oil giant’s first bond sale in three years.

What we know: The document showed final terms of the arrangement include USD 2 bn from the 10-year tranche at 105 basis points (bps) over US Treasuries, USD 2 bn from the 30-year tranche at 145 bps premium and USD 2 bn in 40-year notes at a 155 bps premium. The spreads were narrowed from an initial guidance of 140 bps over US Treasures for the 10-year tranche and 180 bps and 195 bps for the 30-year and 40-year tranches, according to IFR.

Where the money is going: Aramco will earmark the proceeds of the bonds for “general corporate purposes” and could include additional purposes in the final terms of the issuance, it said earlier. The proceeds could be used “to refinance existing borrowings and contribute to its investment program,” Bloomberg reported earlier.

What the pundits are saying: “Aramco is extending maturities as it will continue to gradually leverage up given their expansion plans and capex needs,” Union Bancaire Privee managing director of fixed income advisor Apostolos Bantis told Bloomberg. “With such strong demand the [sale] will most likely price flat to the Saudi sovereign.”

REMEMBER- The bond sale is Aramco’s first since it raised USD 6 bn from a three-tranche sukuk offering in 2021.

Saudi’s debt spree: Saudi Arabia has sold over USD 33 bn worth of debt this year — topping China as the biggest issuer of international debt among emerging markets — to close its SAR 81 bn budget deficit from project spending. Recent debt sales include USD 5 bn worth of FCY-denominated sukuk with three-, six-, and 10-year tranches in May, and a USD 12 bn USD-denominated sovereign bond sale back in January.

ADVISORS- Citi, Goldman Sachs International, HSBC, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and SNB Capital are active joint bookrunners, while the passive joint bookrunners for the issuance are Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Anb capital, Bank of China, BofA Securities, BSF Capital, Emirates NBD Capital Limited, First Abu Dhabi Bank, GIB Capital, Mizuho, MUFG, NATIXIS, Riyad Capital, SMBC Nikko and Standard Chartered Bank.

ALSO FROM ARAMCO-

Aramco’s blockbuster secondary offering drummed up a total of USD 12.4 bn in proceeds by exercising the greenshoe option following the end of the stabilization period, according to a disclosure to Tadawul (pdf). The total proceeds are USD 1 bn more than previously expected.

The details: The option was pulled by the sale’s stabilizing manager Merill Lynch KSA, which placed an addition 154.5 mn shares at a set final price of SAR 27.25. The move raised the stake on offer to 0.7% up from 0.64%, bringing the sale’s net yield to USD 12.4 mn up from USD 11.2 bn. Bloomberg also has the story.

REFRESHER- The transaction comes as the government, Aramco’s majority shareholder, looks to unlock non-oil sources of income to plug its budget deficit and push USD bns worth of gigaprojects out of the pipeline. Think massive investments in sports, AI, tourism, and infrastructure. Proceeds from the sale will likely go into the Public Investment Fund’s coffers, analysts previously told Reuters.

Industrial production volumes decline in May 2024

The Industrial Production Index (IPI) was down 2.9% y-o-y in May 2024 on the back of a decline in mining and quarrying activity — the index’s heaviest-weighted competent, according to a General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) report (pdf). The index analyzes survey data to show volume changes in industrial production across the Kingdom.

Activity in the mining and quarrying sectors — which accounted for 61.4% of the overall IPI — fell 9.7% y-o-y, driven by a reduction in oil output which was down to 8.9 mn barrels per day (bbl / d) in May 2024.

Oil vs non-oil: The oil activities index fell 8.4% y-o-y due to the oil production drop, while the index for non-oil activities rose 12.8%, supported by an increase in all non-oil economic activities except for water projects.

IN CONTEXT- The Kingdom has voluntarily cut oil production by 1 mn bbl / d to stabilize the global market, as per its ongoing agreement with OPEC+ to slash oil production by a combined 3.7 mn barrels per day until October of this year.

Meanwhile, the sub-index for manufacturing climbed 8.2% y-o-y on the back of a 15.6% increase in food production and 10.0% growth in chemicals manufacturing.

Some utilities are up, others down: The sub-index of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply activity grew 6.6% y-o-y, while that of the water supply, sewerage and waste management, and remediation activity dipped 0.2% y-o-y.

On a monthly basis, the IPI rose 0.9% in May, with mining and quarrying activity up 0.1% m-o-m alongside activity increases in manufacturing by 0.8%, electricity and gas by 20.8%, and waste management by 2.2%. Oil activities remained stable m-o-m while non-oil activities grew 3.0% over the same period.

Saudi Re closes sale of full stake in Probitas Holdings to UK’s Aviva Ins.

Local ins. provider Saudi Re has wrapped up the sale of its entire 49.9% stake in Probitas Holdings (Bermuda), it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. The sale, which amounts to GBP 123 mn (c. SAR 592.5 mn), has allowed London-based Aviva Ins. to attain full ownership of Probitas Holdings for GBP 249 mn. The sale is 5x Saudi Re’s initial GBP 20 mn investment into the company back in 2017. Saudi Re is the Kingdom’s first reins. company.

Use of proceeds: The sale, which Saudi Re said will reflect positively on the company’s financial results for 3Q 2024, aims to ramp up liquidity and help Saudi Re boost its presence in the local and global markets.

The perks: The agreement gives Saudi Re the chance to offer reins. coverage to Probitas Holdings over the course of this year and the next, according to the disclosure.

Background: Saudi Re and Aviva Ins. inked a purchase agreement back in March to have the London-based insurer acquire all of Saudi Re’s holdings in Bermuda for a consideration of GBP 120 mn in a sale that was penciled in to close in mid-2024.

Cabinet approves three mining MoUs with Jordan, Gabon and Zimbabwe

Cabinet approved three mining MoUs with Jordan, Gabon and Zimbabwe, state news agency SPA reported. No further details were provided on the MoUs. The weekly meeting was chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. It is the second meeting to be held and led by the Crown Prince since late May.

Also approved at the cabinet’s meeting:

Mandating the transport minister to discuss an MoU with the African Union’s African Civil Aviation Commission on civil aviation;
Mandating the ICT minister to discuss and sign an MoU with Greece on telecommunications and information technology;
Mandating the education minister to discuss with Unesco setting up a regional hub for talent and innovation in the Kingdom;
An MoU for future modern transport with China;
An MoU on halal products with Singapore;
A cooperation agreement on combating terrorism and funding with Tajikistan.

Debt instrument criteria + actual beneficiary rules up for public consultation

Amendments to two pieces of regulation are up for feedback and public consultation, with the Capital Market Authority looking to amend the criteria for debt instrument issuances, while the Commerce Ministry is seeking feedback on changes to the Companies Law’s actual beneficiary rules.

Proposed tweaks to the criteria for issuing debt instruments will be up for public consultation on Istitlaa until Thursday, 8 August, the Capital Market Authority said in a statement. The draft amendments aim to ease issuance requirements by expediting the process and reducing its associated costs.

In a nutshell: The amendments include broadening the range of issuers who are exempt from meeting some of the more burdensome conditions to include developmental funds, banks and sovereign funds. Under the proposed changes, private offerings would benefit from a reduced notification period, allowing for faster access to the market. Meanwhile, listed companies would have a streamlined disclosure mechanism also aimed at facilitating their offerings.

ALSO ON ISTITLAA-

The Commerce Ministry is currently accepting feedback on a draft amendment to the actual beneficiary rules (pdf) under the Companies Law. The rules, which aim to align the local standards for actual beneficiaries with international requirements, will be available on the public consultation platform until Thursday, 8 August.

So… what’s an actual beneficiary? A person who owns a share in the company’s capital or exercises actual control over the company by any other means, either directly or indirectly, qualifies as an actual beneficiary. This means owning at least 25% of the company’s capital, controlling at least 25% of the total voting rights associated with the shares or stakes, having the ability to influence the company’s actions or decisions, or being a director or board member of the company. If none of these conditions are met, then the company’s director or board member is considered the company’s actual beneficiary.

The draft also specifies exclusions from the application of the rules, including joint-stock companies listed on Tadawul, companies owned by legal entities under the supervision and control of the Capital Market Authority, companies or shares owned by the state or its legal bodies, and companies undergoing liquidation procedures under bankruptcy law.

Burgerizzr reappoints chairman + deputy chairman

The board of Nomu-listed Burgerizzr has reappointed Mohammed bin Ali Al Ruwaigh (Linkedin) as its chairman, according to a disclosure to Tadawul. Al Ruwaigh has been serving as the local burger chain’s chairman since 2019 and was previously CEO from 2011. The board also reappointed Sami bin Mohammed Al Obaid (bio) as its deputy chairman. He has been holding the post since 2019. Al Obaid was previously director of government sales at Seera Holding’s leading travel player Almosafer.

Defense Ministry is getting four more Airbus A330 MRTT

DEFENSE-

The Defense Ministry is set to add four Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft to its fleet under a purchase agreement with European planemaker Airbus, it said in a post on X. The A330 MRTT will help upgrade the operational capacities for the Royal Saudi Air Force (Rsaf) in air-to-air refueling and transport missions, the ministry said. The value of the Defense Ministry’s order was not disclosed.

The Rsaf is one of the world’s largest MRTT operators: “This is the third contract signed by Saudi Arabia for the A330 MRTT, making the RSAF one of the largest MRTT operators in the world,” Jean-Brice Dumont, head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space said in a statement. The first of four MRTT is set to enter into service and join the Rsaf’s fleet in 2027, according to Airbus.

Saudi has been looking to localize MRTT: The General Authority for Military Industries signed an agreement earlier this year with Airbus to localize the manufacturing of the MRTT and its components at home.

REMEMBER- The Kingdom has a target of localizing over 50% of its military equipment spending by 2030.

AVIATION-

#1- Riyadh Air partners with Delta Air Lines to expand connectivity to North America: The Public Investment Fund’s new flagship carrier Riyadh Air signed an MoU with US carrier Delta Air Lines to give its customers access to interline flights on Delta’s fleet to US destinations, according to a statement from Riyadh Air. The agreement will also pave the way for Delta to access the Saudi market for the first time by running future direct flights between the US and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Currently, no US carrier flies directly to Saudi. The story received ink from Reuters.

More plans down the line: The airlines will consider selling tickets on each other’s flights via codesharing as well as establishing a joint venture to scale up their partnership, which remains subject to regulatory approvals, the statement showed.

ICYMI- Riyadh Air is growing its network: Riyadh Air, which plans to debut its commercial flights next year, announced partnerships last month with Air China and Singapore Airlines. Later, the company’s CEO Tony Douglas reportedly revealed plans to offer interline flights to Australia and New Zealand using Singapore Airlines’ network.

#2- Regular flights between Syria and Saudi resumed yesterday, with the first flight arriving at King Khalid Airport from the Syrian capital’s airport, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. This marks the return of commercial flights between both countries after over a decade of hiatus, except for a temporary resumption that took place during the 2024 Hajj season. The story also got ink in the Associated Press.

REMEMBER-The Kingdom appointed in May its first envoy to Syria since the closure of its embassy in Damascus in 2012 in the wake of the country’s civil war. Saudi reopened its embassy in Syria earlier this year, while Syria appointed an ambassador to Riyadh last year as it reopened the embassy.

LAW-

Global law firm Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP has obtained a foreign law firm license from Saudi, it said in a statement. The office will employ both local and international lawyers and would be “fully integrated with Curtis’ worldwide operations.” Details on the headcount or when the law firm would begin operations in Saudi were not disclosed.

In context: The license aims to give foreign law firms greater independence, whereby they don’t have to rely on local affiliates to operate in the country. Curtis opened its Saudi office in 2021 under a link-up with Trafua Legal Consultants.

Making it easier for foreign firms to open here: More global law firms have been encouraged to open offices in the Kingdom after the government removed a requirement last year requiring the firms to work through affiliated Saudi law firms.

MINING-

Al Rasheed awarded silica mining license: Riyadh-based construction and mining firm Mohammed Hadi Al Rasheed and Partners Co. has obtained a 20-year mining license from the Industry and Mineral Resources Ministry for a high-purity silica mine in Riyadh, according to a disclosure to Tadawul. The license, which spans an area 9.6 mn sqm, expires in July 2044. No further information was provided on the exact location or the investment value.

Remember- Mohammed Hadi Al Rasheed and Partners made its debut on parallel market Nomu in May after wrapping up an IPO that saw it sell a 12% stake in a secondary share sale.

CIT-

Tadawul-listed IT solutions firm Elm will provide its services to the Interior Ministry and the Saudi Data and AI Authority under a 10-year data resources development agreement it signed earlier this week, the PIF-owned company said in a disclosure to Tadawul. The agreement is effective from 1 January, 2024.

DEBT WATCH-

Tadawul-listed Perfect Presentation (2P) has increased its Shariah-compliant credit facility with Arab National Bank (ANB) by SAR 121 mn, bringing the loan up to SAR 356 mn, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. The facility, which runs until July next year, aims to fund a healthy ministry call center by 2P.

S&P 500 is on a tear as investors see September rate cuts as likely

Wall Street is getting a record rally: The S&P 500 hit another record high at the close of trading yesterday, marking the 37th record high since the beginning of the year and the sixth consecutive record close for the index. Yesterday’s record performance was buoyed by chip stocks, which were “outperformers” in the trading day, as Taiwan Semiconductor rallied after it released earnings that were better than expected. Nvidia closed up nearly 3%, while Apple shares also jumped on news that it plans to ramp up its iPhone shipments.

What’s driving the rally? Investors are looking more confident that the US Federal Reserve will move to cut interest rates in the next few months, after Fed Chair Jerome Powell testified to Congress on Tuesday that he has “some confidence” that inflation will cool to 2%. Powell also told Congress that the Fed doesn’t necessarily need to wait for inflation to fall to 2% before moving on interest rate cuts, which signaled to investors that a September rate cut could be in the cards.

Wall Street will be watching for inflation figures being released later this evening and tomorrow for more signs on where the Fed is heading. The US will release CPI data today, while producer price index figures are expected to be released tomorrow. (Financial Times | CNBC | Reuters)

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are in the green this morning, driven by the US tech rally and hopes for a Fed rate cut. The Nikkei is up 0.97%, while the broad based Topix is up 0.7%, both notching fresh highs. Meanwhile, Wall Street futures are little changed, while European markets are heading for a strong open.

TASI	11,784	0.0% (YTD: -1.5%)
MSCI Tadawul 30	1,472	0.0% (YTD: -5.1%)
NomuC	25,517	-0.2% (YTD: +4.0%)
USD : SAR (SAMA)	USD 3.75 Sell	USD 3.75 Buy
Interest rates	6% repo	5.5% reverse repo
EGX30	28,288.	-0.6% (YTD: +13.6%)
ADX	9,138	0.0% (YTD: -4.7%)
DFM	4,080	+0.1% (YTD: +0.5%)
S&P 500	5,634	+1.0% (YTD: +18.1%)
FTSE 100	8,194	+0.7% (YTD: +6.0%)
Euro Stoxx 50	4,959	+1.1% (YTD: +9.7%)
Brent crude	USD 85.35	+0.8%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.33	-0.6%
Gold	USD 2,379.70	+0.5%
BTC	58,261.35	0.9% (YTD: +31.9%)

THE CLOSING BELL: TADAWUL-

The TASI was flat yesterday on turnover of SAR 5.2 bn. The index is down 1.5% YTD.

In the green: Al Baha (+8.3%), Miahona (+7.5%) and AlKathiri (+6.3%).

In the red: Medgulf (-5.8%), Saudi Re (-2.4%) and Zamil Industrial (-1.9%).

THE CLOSING BELL: NOMU-

The NomuC fell 0.2% yesterday on turnover of SAR 24.2 mn. The index is up 4.0% YTD.

In the green: Ghida Al Sultan (+7.4%), Azm (+5.9%) and Armah (+4.7%).

In the red: Leaf (-14.7%), Saudi Top (-9.7%) and Naba Alsaha (-5.7%)

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

Alinma Hospitality will distribute SAR 32.6 mn in dividends to all unitholders of its Alinma Hospitality REIT Fund for 1H 2024, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. Distribution will be completed within 15 working days of the eligibility date which was set for Monday, 22 July.

CALENDAR

JULY

4 July-25 August: (Thursday-Sunday): Esports World Cup, Boulevard Riyadh City, Riyadh.

7-11 July (Sunday-Thursday): Monsha'at’s wholesale and retail week, Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Khobar SME support centers.

10-11 July: (Wednesday-Thursday): Global EV & Mobility Tech Forum, Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, Riyadh.

12 July (Friday): PFL MENA 2, The Green Halls, Riyadh.

July 24 (Wednesday): Stc shareholders to vote on PIF acquisition of Tawal.

21-30 July (Sunday-Tuesday): International Chemistry Olympiad, King Saud University, Riyadh.

AUGUST

4 August (Sunday): Last day to apply to the Digital Government Authority (DGA) awards.

12-15 August (Monday-Thursday): The Saudi Food Expo, Riyadh.

18 August (Sunday): New academic year begins.

27-29 August (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi Fashiontex Expo, Riyadh.

SEPTEMBER

2-4 September (Monday-Wednesday): Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Expo, Riyadh.

2-4 September (Monday-Wednesday): Saudi Wood Expo, Riyadh.

3-5 September (Tuesday-Thursday): 24 Fintech, Front Exhibition & Conference Center, Riyadh.

9-11 September (Monday-Wednesday): International Manufacturing Congress, Riyadh.

10 September (Tuesday): Saudi Arabia Investors Forum, Riyadh.

10-11 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): SkyMove MENA, Riyadh.

10-12 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi Sports Show, Riyadh.

10-12 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Global AI Summit, Riyadh.

11-12 September (Wednesday-Thursday): The Saudi Event Show, Riyadh.

16-19 September (Monday-Thursday): Foodex Saudi, Riyadh.

17-19 September (Tuesday-Thursday): EV Auto Show, Riyadh.

17-19 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Hotel & Hospitality Expo, Front Exhibition & Conference Center, Riyadh.

18-19 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress, Dammam.

18-19 September (Wednesday-Thursday): IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2024, Riyadh.

24-26 September (Tuesday-Thursday) Saudi Infrastructure Expo, Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, Riyadh.

23 September (Monday): National Day (national holiday).

29 September (Sunday) - 1 October (Tuesday): Jeddah Construct Expo, Jeddah.

OCTOBER

1-3 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Intersec Saudi Arabia 2024, Riyadh.

5-7 October (Saturday-Monday): Middle East Education & Training Exhibition 2024, Jeddah.

15-16 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Solar & Storage Live KSA, Riyadh.

16-17 October (Monday-Tuesday): Global Airport & Aviation Forum, Jeddah.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Smart Ports & Logistics Transformation Summit, Riyadh.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Aussie Expo, King Abdullah Financial District Conference Center, Riyadh.

29-31 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Investment Initiative Conference, Riyadh.

31 October (Thursday): No-visa travel for Saudis to Montenegro on charter flights expires.

NOVEMBER

2-9 November (Saturday- Saturday): WTA Finals, Riyadh.

4-7 November (Monday-Thursday): Saudi Build, Riyadh.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi Electricity Expo, Riyadh.

11-12 November (Monday-Tuesday): World Advanced Manufacturing Logistics Summit & Expo, Riyadh.

11-12 November (Monday-Tuesday): Saudi Airport Exhibition, Riyadh.

11-14 November (Monday-Thursday): Cityscape Global, Riyadh.

18-20 November (Monday-Wednesday): The Heavy Equipment and Truck Show, Dammam.

19-21 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi International Maritime Forum, Dammam.

25-27 November (Monday-Wednesday): World Investment Conference, Riyadh.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Power Expo, Riyadh.

DECEMBER

1 December (Sunday): Opec+ to meet.

2-3 December (Monday-Tuesday) Wings of Change Middle East, Riyadh.

2-13 December (Monday-Friday): Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Riyadh.

11 December (Wednesday): FIFA Congress, which will decide the hosting countries for the FIFA World Cup 2030 and 2034

23-26 December (Monday-Thursday): Aqarat Expo, Riyadh.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2024:

The AFC Champions League Elite

2025

JANUARY 2025

28-29 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): Sustainability Forum Middle East, Riyadh.

FEBRUARY 2025

10-13 February (Monday-Thursday): Leap 2025, the Kingdom’s premier tech investment conference.

14-15 February (Friday-Saturday): Formula E, Diriyah.

JUNE 2025

26 June (Thursday): 2024-2025 academic year ends.

2026

UN Trade and Development Global Supply Chain Forum to take place in Saudi Arabia.

2027

The World Water Forum takes place in Riyadh.

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