Arabian Mills is taking a 30% stake to market

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: It’s the first day of the new SPL season

Good morning, friends, and welcome to a very busy issue to round out the week. Leading our news well this morning is Arabian Mills’ plans to list a 30% stake on Tadawul’s main market, as well as Mawani and Maersk inaugurating their Jeddah Islamic Port logistics park.

HAPPENING TODAY-

The 2024-25 Saudi Pro League (SPL) season kicks off tonight, starting with Al Taawon facing Al Feiha in Buraidah at 7:10pm, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo-led Al Nassr taking on Al Raed at 9pm.

Ronaldo is looking for a better season than last: The footballer scored a record-breaking 35 goals last season, but his team fell 14 points shy of incumbent champions Al Hilal, who will be strengthened by Neymar’s return this season — pointing to a tougher challenge for the Portuguese legend to bag his maiden SPL title, writes the Associated Press. Al Hilal are set to commence their title defense against Al Akhdoud next Saturday at 9pm.

Jeddah-based clubs are also still very much in the mix, with former Manchester City star and five-time English Premier League champion Riyad Mahrez leading the line for Al Ahli, while Al Ittihad added Moussa Diaby to their frontline for EUR 60 mn over the summer, joining the 2022 Ballon d’Or recipient Karim Benzema.

The dearth of high-profile signings is getting more ink: Last year’s GBP 700 mn spending spree brought in big names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema, but this summer has seen no comparable major transfers, according to BBC Sports. The pundits chalk this up to economic conditions and changes in the global transfer market, while Saudi clubs are now prioritizing strategic investments and team stability over the high spending of previous seasons.

Fixtures from Matchday 1:

Today:

Al Taawoun vs. Al Feiha at 7:10pm;
Al Wehda vs. Al Riyadh at 9pm;
Al Nassr vs. Al Raed at 9pm.

Tomorrow:

Damac vs. Al Khaleej at 7:10pm;
Al Ahli vs. Al Orobah at 9pm;
Al Qadsiyah vs. Al Fateh at 9pm.

Saturday:

Al Kholood vs. Al Ittihad at 7:10pm;
Al Akhdoud vs Al Hilal at 9pm;
Al Shabab vs. Al Ettifaq at 9pm.

⚠️ WEATHER WARNING- Thunderstorms are still in the cards across the country today the General Directorate of Civil Defense said in a warning on X. Makkah is in for the most severe conditions, including heavy rainfall, flash floods, hail, and sandstorms. Meanwhile, Riyadh, Madinah, Baha, Asir, and Jazan are also forecasted to get varying degrees of rainfall.

PSAs-

#1- Corporate taxpayers need to file July returns by Saturday, 31 August: The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority has urged businesses with more than SAR 40 mn in turnover to submit their July tax returns by Saturday, 31 August. Failure to meet the deadline could result in penalties ranging from 5-25% of the tax due, according to a statement.

#2- New day, new property registrations: Property owners in four select Madinah neighborhoods will be able to register their properties between Sunday, 29 September and 2 January 2025, the Real Estate General Authority said in a statement. Initial applications can be submitted through the Real Estate Registry online portal, which provides a set of services including deed transfers. Registration requires a valid title deed.

#3- Gem and precious metal appraisers have until 1 July, 2025 to meet membership requirements set by the Saudi Authority for Accredited Valuers (Taqeem), according to state news agency SPA. They must also obtain a professional license from the authority by 1 July, 2026.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- US-Saudi Business Council sings the praises of new foreign investment law: Susan Lindeman, interim president and CEO of the US-Saudi Business Council, lauded the new Saudi foreign investment law in an interview with state news agency SPA. The amended law creates a transparent and accessible environment for investing and addresses several hurdles to investments on both sides, Lindeman said.

REMEMBER- The Cabinet signed off on amendments to the Kingdom’s 25-year-old Investment Law last week, introducing changes designed to attract foreign investment by leveling the playing field between foreign and local investors under a unified set of rules. The move looks to boost the Kingdom’s competitiveness as a destination for FDI as part of a broader strategy to diversify the country’s revenues away from oil.

#2- Dar Global taps Rothschild & Co for expansion plans in KSA and London: London-listed Dar Global, the international branch of Saudi real estate developer Dar Al Arkan, has enlisted US financial advisory giant Rothschild & Co to look at potential acquisitions and joint ventures in Saudi Arabia and London, according to a press release.

ICYMI- Dar Global is currently developing two Trump Towers, one in Jeddah and another in Dubai. The company is also looking into acquiring land in Riyadh. Additionally, Dar Global announced in June plans to invest USD 300 mn in luxury residential developments in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles in the coming months.

#3- The Riyadh Metro is set to open this year, Transport Minister Saleh Al Jasser told Al Arabiya in an interview primarily focused on local logistics projects (watch, runtime: 12:44). The USD 22.5 bn metro is set to be the largest in the world to be executed in a single phase. It will feature six lines and 84 stations, with a total length of 176 km.

DATA POINTS-

PoS transactions in the Kingdom inched up 1.1% w-o-w in the last week to over 204.3 mn, according to Sama’s weekly transaction report (pdf) figures released by the central bank. The transactions’ value logged SAR 13.6 bn, up 3.6% w-o-w.

Which sectors led the increase? The number of PoS transactions for education expenses jumped 59% week-on-week, rising 127.5% in terms of value compared to the week prior, as schools began the new academic year at the beginning of this week. Clothing and footwear transactions also rose 10.9% on a weekly basis, with the value of these PoS transactions rising 7.0% week-on-week. Other segments pushing up the index include recreation and culture (+13.2%), public utilities (+4.1%), and gas stations (+2.7%).

Riyadh continued to lead the pack as the city with the largest share of PoS transactions across the Kingdom, accounting for nearly 36% (SAR 4.6 bn) of point of sale transactions across the country in terms of value. Jeddah follows with 14.5% of the week’s market share by value.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Goldman Sachs revises down forecasts for Brent crude prices: Goldman Sachs now expects Brent crude to drop to USD 68 per barrel by late 2025 if China’s oil demand remains stagnant through next year, Reuters reports citing a note from the investment bank. This is down from a previous estimate of USD 75-90 / bbl. Currently, Brent futures are trading around USD 77 / bbl, while US WTI crude is at approximately USD 74.16.

"We conclude that the road fuel shift from oil to power (via electric vehicles) and liquefied natural gas explains the bulk of slowdown in China demand growth," Goldman said. The investment bank estimates a significant reduction in China’s y-o-y oil demand growth to 0.2 mn bbl / d in 1H 2024, with a decline expected to continue through the summer. Recent data show China’s economy slowing, with declining home prices, reduced industrial output, and rising unemployment contributing to the reduced demand, the newswire writes.

#2- Australia’s second-largest oil and gas producer is upbeat about natural gas demand well beyond 2050, despite the global push towards net-zero emissions by mid-century. Santos’ CEO, Kevin Gallagher, told Bloomberg “We see demand for gas — LNG in particular — remaining very strong beyond 2050.” The company plans to ramp up its production capacity by 50% by 2030.

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Ahead of Jackson Hole meeting, Fed minutes show September rate hike are all the more likely: The “vast majority” of policymakers at the US Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting in July agreed “it would likely be appropriate to ease policy at the [Reserve’s] next meeting,” provided inflation and employment data remain “encouraging,” according to the meeting minutes pdf.

The Fed officials agreed inflation is “moving sustainably towards” the target of 2%, with expectations of continued downward pressure on inflation figures in the months ahead, the minutes showed. Although some officials said there was room to enact the first round of cuts at last month’s meeting, they unanimously agreed to leave rates unchanged.

The minutes were published ahead of an annual gathering of central bankers at Jackson Hole, where US Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is scheduled to speak on the country’s economic outlook tomorrow. The data provide further impetus for Powell to make the case that kicking off a monetary easing cycle is unlikely to push rates back up, particularly as the Fed now grapples with the need to mitigate the risks of recession.

Markets have already priced in September rate cuts, with the majority expecting a 25 bps reduction next month, while futures have priced in a total of 100 bps of easing through the end of 2024. The story is broadly leading headlines in the international business press this morning: (Bloomberg | CNBC | Financial Times | Wall Street Journal)

OVER IN CHICAGO- Kamala Harris’ running mate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is set to take the stage at the Democratic National Convention, marking his first high-profile national speech. Also speaking at the convention overnight: Former US President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (New York Times | Washington Post | Politico | Bloomberg | Reuters)

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The five–day Tourism Week organized by Monsha’at will get underway next Sunday, 25 August, at the Enterprise Support Centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, and Madinah. You can check out the agenda here, and register here.

The EFG Hermes London Conference returns: EFG Hermes will hold its annual conference in London on 9-12 September, giving investors “unique and unparalleled access to leading equities in MENA and key frontier emerging markets.”

The Crown Prince Camel Festival runs until Tuesday, 10 September at the Taif Camel Racing Track, featuring 610 rounds of racing and a purse of SAR 56 mn.

The New Global Sport Conference 2024 is happening on Saturday and Sunday, 24-25August, bringing together top figures from sports, esports, gaming, entertainment, and technology. This year’s theme is the Future of Fandom, highlighting fans’ role in building brand equity and revenue.

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

The two-day Data Center Xpo summit will kick off in Riyadh on Tuesday, 3 September.

The two-day Kingdom Business and Luxury Travel Congress will kick off on Wednesday, 25 September, at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel and Convention.

The three-day Global Logistics Forum will kick off on Saturday, 12 October at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District.

Arabian Mills eyes taking a 30% stake to market in secondary share sale on Tadawul’s main market

Arabian Mills for Food Products is taking a 30% stake — good for 15.4 mn shares — to Tadawul’s main market in a secondary share sale, it said in a statement to Tadawul (pdf). The milling company received Capital Market Authority approval in June.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)

Open for institutional + retail investors: The company plans to offer 100% of the offering to institutional investors, according to the IPO prospectus (pdf). This can be reduced to 90% if there is sufficient enough demand from retail investors, who would then be allocated 10% of the sale. Other IPO information and documents can be found on the company’s IPO website.

Subscription limits: Each institutional investor can place orders for a minimum of 50k shares, and a maximum of 2.6 mn. While retail investors can subscribe for a minimum of 10 shares, and a maximum of 250k.

The timeline:

Bookbuilding for institutional investors: From Sunday, 1 September, to Thursday, 5 September. The deadline for subscription is Sunday, 15 September.
Subscription period for retail investors: From Wednesday, 18 September, to Thursday, 19 September;
Final offer allocation: Thursday, 26 September;
Refund of excess subscriptions: Thursday, 3 October.

Shareholding structure + lockup period: The three substantial shareholders are selling down their positions to a combined 70%, and are prohibited from conducting any transactions on their shares for a period of six months from the first day of trading.

The offering proceeds, after deducting estimated offering expenses of SAR 33 mn, will be distributed among the selling shareholders in proportion to the number of shares each sells. These expenses will be borne by the selling shareholders.

ADVISORS- Our friends at HSBC Saudi Arabia are acting as the sole financial advisor, global coordinator, bookrunner, underwriter, and lead manager on the transaction, while Baker McKenzie is legal counsel, PwC is financial due diligence advisor, EY is auditor, and Euromonitor International is market consultant. Meanwhile, Alrajhi Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank, and Banque Saudi Fransi are the receiving agents.

Latest earnings: The company reported a 21.5% y-o-y decline in net income to SAR 200.3 mn in 2023, and its revenues dropped 4.5% to SAR 862.1 mn.

About the company: Arabian Mills operates three plants split between Riyadh, Jazan, and Hail with a combined milling capacity of 4.9k tonnes per day, according to its IPO website. Arabian Mills has the largest wheat milling capacity in the Kingdom, with a 28.4% market share. The company also says it has more than 7k B2B and B2C customers.
** EDITOR'S NOTE: Corrected on 22 August, 2024 to correct a reference to Arabian Mills in the last sentence. An earlier version erroneously cited First Mills.

Mawani + Maersk inaugurate SAR 1.3 bn logistics park Jeddah Islamic Port

Maersk launches region’s largest logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port: German shipping giant Maersk and the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) have jointly inaugurated a SAR 1.3 bn logistics zone at Jeddah Islamic Port, according to statements from Maersk and Mawani yesterday (here and here). The facility, described by Maersk as the largest single-site logistics and services hub in the Middle East, aims to enhance logistics development in the Kingdom and support trade facilitation and export efforts to global markets.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)

What we know: The logistics park spans an area of 225k sqm with the capacity to handle 200k TEU containers annually. Mawani and Maersk broke ground on the project in February last year. The launch is in line with a plan by the Kingdom to set up 60 logistics zones by 2030.

A wide range of services: The logistics zone will provide importers and exporters with storage and distribution services, warehousing for refrigerated food products, transshipment services, air freight and freight forwarding spaces, and an e-commerce center.

What’s special about the port: The port has advanced infrastructure with berths capable of hosting new generations of large ships as well as modern equipment that contribute to the operational efficiency and capacity of the port, according to Maersk.

Sustainability in mind: The facility will draw up to 70% of its electricity from 32k solar panels covering an area of 64k sqm on the rooftop. The park will also use electric equipment and electric trucks to reduce emissions and implement carbon removal solutions as Maersk looks to hit net zero by 2040.

Lots of action this year at Jeddah Islamic Port: Mawani and Al Jeri Logistics Services inked earlier this week two contracts worth SAR 160 mn to develop two logistics zones for storing and handling containers at Jeddah Islamic Port and King AbdulAziz Port in Dammam. Mawani and DP World broke ground in May on a SAR 900 mn logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port, with the park set to open in 2Q 2025. The port authority and Global Maritime Services Company also finalized the blueprint for a SAR 219 mn development at Globe Park in Jeddah Islamic Port in the same month. Mawani also partnered with MSC logistics arm Medlog to establish a SAR 175 mn integrated logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port in March.

Saudi Arabia closes SAR 6 bn in the August sukuk issuance, with lower yields on offered tranches

The Finance Ministry has closed its August sukuk issuance, raising SAR 6 bn from fixed-income investors, up from SAR 3.2 bn last month, according to a National Debt Management Center (NDMC) statement (pdf). This is part of the government’s SAR-denominated sukuk program.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)

This month saw yields on all of the offered tranches decline on a monthly basis. The issuance was structured in five tranches, including:

A 5-year tranche valued at SAR 2.8 bn with a 4.7% yield;
A 7-year tranche valued at SAR 2 bn with a 4.75% yield;
A 10-year tranche valued at SAR 152 mn with a 4.86% yield;
A 12-year tranche valued at SAR 415 mn with a 4.94% yield;
A 15-year tranche valued at SAR 642 mn with a 5.03% yield.

SAR-denominated sukuk issuances in Saudi more than tripled y-o-y in 1H 2024, hitting USD 10 bn during the first six months of the year, S&P Global said last month. This growth comes despite local currency sukuk declining 8.8% y-o-y on a global scale, driven largely by Turkey, Pakistan, the UAE, and Malaysia taking lower issuances to market, according to S&P. We also led sukuk and bond issuances in the GCC in 1H 2024 where regional issuances (sovereign and corporate) grew 38% y-oy to USD 75.5 bn, with the Kingdom accounting for almost half of these issuances.

Not quite the slowdown Fitch Ratings was expecting: The ratings agency said in July that it expects sukuk sales by regional issuers to fall in the summer months before picking up in 4Q as governments continue to pursue diversified funding for projects and look to plug budget deficits.

A snapshot of gov’t debt obligations in 2024: The total remaining debt maturities in 2024 stand at c. SAR 21 bn, down from SAR 40 bn on the back of NDMC’s “successful execution of liability management transaction in 2023,” according to the center’s annual borrowing plan report for FY 2024 (pdf). The government’s total debt portfolio is expected to reach SAR 1.1 tn by year-end.

The macro picture: The budget’s deficit for this year is projected to reach SAR 79 bn, putting our financing needs at around SAR 86 bn. Up to 35% of those needs will be financed through domestic SAR-denominated instruments, while up to 40% is expected to be raised in international markets, and up to 50% through the government alternative funding (GAF) channel. GAF aims at financing the government’s capex and infrastructure projects.

From the private sector: Banque Saudi Fransi kicked off the offering for an additional Tier 1 SAR-denominated sukuk under its SAR 8 bn sukuk program last week.

Arabian United Float Glass is taking a 7% stake to Nomu, guiding on a price of SAR 54 per share

Arabian United Float Glass (UFG) is guiding on a price of SAR 54 per share for its Nomu IPO, according to the company’s prospectus (pdf), which was published yesterday. Qualified investors will be able to grab a 7% stake (equivalent to 1.2 mn shares) in the glass maker. UFG lined up CMA approval back in March. The timeline of the offering is yet to be made public.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)

This is a secondary offering: The offered shares will be sold by the four substantial shareholders whose combined stake in the company will be reduced to 74.5%, down from 80.1%, after the offering is fully covered. This is in addition to another 49 non-substantial shareholders whose combined stake will stand at 18.5%, down from 19.9%.

Market cap + proceeds: The guidance price would give the company a market cap of SAR 918 mn at listing (assuming the offering is fully covered on the first day of listing), and could see it rake up to SAR 64.3 mn in proceeds, according to Enterprise calculations.

Lockup period: The four substantial shareholders will not be able to make any transactions on their shares for a 12-month period from the first day of listing, while non-substantial shareholders will be able to make transactions on their shares only after the sale has been fully covered.

Latest earnings results: The glass manufacturer reported SAR 40.3 mn in net income in 9M 2023, down from SAR 46.6 mn in the same period of the previous year, while its revenues came in at SAR 211 mn, down from SAR 152 mn.

ADVISORS- Yaqeen Capital is acting as financial advisor, and market maker on the transaction, while PKF is the auditor, and Crowe is legal counsel.

About the company: Established in 2006, UFG is located in Yanbu with a manufacturing plant that has a production capacity of 700 tons of glass products per day.

Acwa Power breaks ground on 200 MW wind plant + 100 MW battery station in Uzbekistan

Acwa Power broke ground on its USD 260 mn Beruniy wind plant in Uzbekistan, according to a statem ent. The project is being developed in partnership with National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan (Negy) and includes the construction of a 200 MW wind power plant and a 100 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Karakalpakstan.

By the numbers: The Karakalpakstan project aims to generate 0.8 TWh of clean energy annually, meeting the electricity needs of approximately 292k households, and reducing CO2 emissions by 336k tons per year, Acwa says. It will build a 45 km, double-circuit 220 kV power transmission line to connect the plant to substation. The project is slated for commercial operations in 4Q 2026.

Acwa is building a significant wind portfolio in Uzbekistan: The company signed a SAR 18.2 bn (c. USD 4.9 bn) power purchase agreement with Negu to develop a new 5 GW wind farm — set to become the largest in Central Asia — in May. It also signed a SAR 985 mn (c. 262.6 mn) power purchase agreement to develop the 200 MW Nukus 2 wind project in April, and a USD 2.4 bn agreement with the Negu for a 1.5 GW wind energy farm in January. Acwa has a total of 15 projects in Uzbekistan for around USD 13.9 bn.

Solar + hydrogen are on Acwa’s list too: Acwa secured some SAR 1.4 bn (c. USD 373.2 mn) in financing to fund its 200 MW solar PV and battery storage project in Uzbekistan last month. Acwa also began construction on its green hydrogen production facility — expected to be commissioned in December 2024 — in Tashkent last year. The plant will be connected to an existing ammonia production plant in Tashkent and will generate 3k tons of green hydrogen annually during its initial production phase.

Hyatt has a new MEA managing director + Saudi Industrial Export names new managing director

Hyatt Hotels has appointed Stephen Ansell (Linkedin) as its new managing director of the Middle East and Africa region, where he will oversee 38 hotels, and eight brands, according to a press release. Ansell has previously held leadership roles at Hyatt in Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Russia, and Switzerland, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism sector.

A focus on local expansion: In his new position, Andell will focus on expanding Hyatt's footprint in Saudi Arabia with the Grand Hyatt The Red Sea and Miraval The Red Sea set to open by late 2025. The group also signed agreements with Knowledge Economic City for two new hotels in Madinah — Hyatt House Madinah and Hyatt Centric Madinah.

Saudi Industrial Export has tapped board member Ghassan Abulrahman Al Haidari (LinkedIn) as its new managing director, it said in a filing to Tadawul.

A round of applause for Etaam + Hungerstation + Yanbu Industrial City

Etaam + Hungerstation partner on Kingdom’s largest ever food drive: Saudi Food Bank (Etaam) and homegrown food delivery app HungerStation inked a SAR 30 mn agreement that will see 100k food baskets distributed across the Kingdom, state news agency SPA reports. The undertaking represents the largest food security drive implemented by Etaam to date, Etaam Chairman Abdul Latif bin Abdullah Al Rajhi said.

Yanbu Industrial City becomes first in Saudi Arabia to earn international accreditation for resilient cities: The Royal Commission in Yanbu has achieved the ISO 37123 accreditation from the World Council on City Data, according to state news agency SPA. The accreditation underscores the city’s commitment to resilience and sustainability by evaluating its emergency management, infrastructure robustness, health and safety, and environmental sustainability.

** Our Thursday Kudos section recognizes companies that are doing well — or doing well by others. Have something you want us to consider? Email ksa@enterprise.news.

NDP appoints Northern Trust as custodian for its USD multi-bns portfolio

FINANCIAL SERVICES-

The National Development Fund has tapped Northern Trust Saudi Arabia as the custodian for its SAR 60 bn asset portfolio, according to state news agency SPA. Northern Trust will be responsible for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and transparency of asset management, aiming to lower operating costs and enhance effectiveness, operational efficiency, and financial security for improved returns and long-term sustainability.

TRANSPORT-

Madinah municipality awards rapid bus project management contract to Egis-Systra JV: Al Madinah Region Development Authority (MRDA) has tapped a JV between France’s engineering firm Egis and public transport solutions provider Systra to oversee the development of the Madinah Bus Rapid Transit project, they said in two separate statements here and here. “The project seeks to establish up to 500 stations, achieving 80-90% area coverage by 2030.”

The fine print: Under the agreement, the JV will supervise the design, construction, and operation of the bus rapid transit project. It will also be responsible for the safety and security management of the bus network.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

Inaugurating a SAR 43 mn water tank project in Northern Riyadh: The National Water Company has finished constructing and operationalizing three water tanks in the Diriyah, Hittin, and Nakheel districts of northern Riyadh, according to a company statement. The project included building two new 10k-cubic-meter tanks and upgrading an existing 4k-cubic-meter tank, adding a total of 24k cubic meters of storage capacity. This initiative aims to enhance water distribution in these districts.

RENEWABLES-

Egypt-based renewable energy firm NoorNation has received an undisclosed investment from homegrown KBW ventures, the asset management company said in a statement. The investment represents KBW Ventures’s first investment in the Egyptian market.

MANUFACTURING-

Aramco and the National Fire Protection Association signed an MoU to jointly develop fire, electrical, and life safety regulations, according to a joint press release. They will also launch educational and training programs and probe methods to safeguard lives and property in the Saudi energy and petrochemical industries.

Gold soars as investors pencil in September rate cuts and a weakening USD

Gold prices soar to record highs as investors anticipate rate cuts: Gold prices had a record run this week, driven by expectations of an incoming interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve in September, as well as a weakening USD, Reuters reports.

Gold prices have been on the up for a while now, with Comex gold futures now clocking in at USD 2,547.50 per troy ounce, with prices up 25.2% over the last six months. It’s a similar story for gold spot prices, which are up 24.1% over a half a year period. Holdings of gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have also risen by some USD 7.3 bn since May, the Financial Times reports, citing data from the World Gold Council.

“The primary drivers of the gold price move are financial investment demand, particularly with ETF buying improving and overall improved sentiment as the expectations of Fed easing cycle to begin in September,” Citi Research’s Aakash Doshi told Reuters. Doshi also expects gold to reach USD 3k per ounce by mid-2025 and USD 2.6k by the end of this year.

Remember: US inflation fell below 3% in July for the first time since March 2021, strengthening the case for the Fed to cut interest rates at its next meeting in September. Markets are pricing in a 64.5% chance of the Fed cutting interest rates by 25 basis points, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mostly in the green during early trading this morning as traders price in recently released minutes from a US Federal Reserve meeting that raised hopes of an approaching rate cut. The Nikkei is up 1.0% and the Hang Seng has advanced 0.4%, while the Shanghai is currently down 0.1% at the time of writing.

TASI	12,187	+0.7% (YTD: +1.8%)
MSCI Tadawul 30	1,523	+1.1% (YTD: -1.8%)
NomuC	25,960	-0.1% (YTD: +5.8%)
USD : SAR (SAMA)	USD 3.75 Sell	USD 3.75 Buy
Interest rates	6.5% repo	5.5% reverse repo
EGX30	29,914	0.0% (YTD: +20.2%)
ADX	9,348	+0.3% (YTD: -2.4%)
DFM	4,295	+0.9% (YTD: +5.8%)
S&P 500	6,621	+0.4% (YTD: +17.8%)
FTSE 100	8,283	+0.1% (YTD: +10.2%)
Euro Stoxx 50	4,885	+0.6% (YTD: +8.1%)
Brent crude	USD 76.1	-1.5%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.2	+0.6%
Gold	USD 2,547.50	-0.1%
BTC	USD 61,042.00	+2.9% (YTD: +44.4%)

THE CLOSING BELL: TADAWUL-

The TASI rose 0.7% yesterday on turnover of SAR 8.9 bn. The index is up 1.8% YTD.

In the green: Red Sea (+7.1%), Teco (+6.1%) and Zoujaj (+5.1%).

In the red: Cenomi Retail (-3.4%), Abo Moati (-3.3%) and Wataniya (-2.9%).

THE CLOSING BELL: NOMU-

The NomuC fell 0.1% yesterday on turnover of SAR 36.7 mn. The index is up 5.8% YTD.

In the green: Taqat (+9.8%), Bena (+9.3%) and Riyadh Steel (+9.1%).

In the red: Pan Gulf (-10.9%), Paper Home (-7.4%) and Fad (-7.4%)

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

Riyad Capital will distribute SAR 25.8 mn in dividends to unitholders of Riyad REIT Fund at SAR 0.15 per unit, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul.

CALENDAR

AUGUST

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

10 August - 10 September (Saturday-Tuesday): Crown Prince Camel Festival,Taif Camel Racing Track.

18-22 August (Sunday-Thursday): SANS Riyadh Cyber Leaders August 2024, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya.

24-25 August (Saturday-Sunday): New Global Sport Conference 2024 (NGSC24), Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh.

25-29 August (Sunday-Thursday): Tourism Week, Enterprise Support Centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, and Madinah.

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.

3-4 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): Data Center Xpo, Voca, Riyadh.

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

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

9-12 September (Monday-Thursday): EFG Hermes London Conference, Emirates Stadium, London.

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

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

10-11 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): Middle East LPG Expo – Saudi Arabia 2024, Intercontinental Hotel, 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).

25-26 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Kingdom Business and Luxury Travel Congress, Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel and Convention.

27 September (Friday): CAF Super Cup Final 2024, Riyadh.

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

29 September (Sunday): Start of Digital Chip Design Technologies training program.

OCTOBER

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

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

12 October (Saturday): Riyadh Season.

12 October (Saturday): Shakur Stevenson x Joe Cordina, Riyadh.

12-14 October (Saturday-Monday): Global Logistics Forum, Riyadh.

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.

21-23 October (Monday-Wednesday): Global Health Exhibition 2024, 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.

3-5 December (Tuesday-Thursday): The International Business Exchange – IBEX EVENTS, 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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