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By K Raveendran New Delhi appears to be recalibrating its crude-oil sourcing strategy under mounting pressure from Washington, signalling what may be a strategic shift away from Moscow in favour of deeper ties with the United States. Over the past few months, Indian refiners, including the major private player Reliance Industries, have ceased or paused […]

The article India’s Energy Pivot Under Donald Trump’s Tariff Pressure appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Gold regained momentum as the US dollar’s slide and expectations of a shift in Federal Reserve policy helped lift the metal above the psychologically important $4,000-per-ounce mark. Spot gold rose around 0.7 % to $4,009.39 per ounce, while US gold futures for December delivery edged up to $4,022.10. At the same time, broader factors have introduced both bullish and cautionary signals to the market.

Investor interest is rekindled by the weaker dollar, which makes gold relatively cheaper for buyers holding other currencies, and by widespread anticipation that the Fed will adopt a more dovish stance. The dollar index fell roughly 0.1 % as markets weighed the possibility of rate cuts. At the same time, certain easing in trade-tensions between the US and China has slightly reduced gold’s role as a safe-haven asset. The confluence of these opposing forces has begun to shape a more nuanced outlook for the metal.

Analysts say that the rebound above $4,000 should not be taken as a strong bullish assurance yet. While the technical bounce signals renewed buying interest, momentum must be supported by fundamentals. One market commentator observed that “buyers who were waiting on the sidelines for gold are now being tempted into taking positions at these price levels. Also, we are seeing a bit of softness from the dollar, which is giving gold a reprieve”.

The wider context shows that gold has already surged markedly this year, up more than 50 % in 2025, and reached a record high near $4,381.21 in mid-October. The rally has been fuelled by a combination of geopolitical anxiety, central-bank buying and expectations of monetary easing. But the pull-back seen earlier this week underscores that investor discipline and macro clarity are still required for any sustained rise.

Emerging trends in the market reveal more structural undercurrents. Research from noted finance academics suggests that gold’s role is evolving: it may increasingly function as a high-quality liquid asset, competing with traditional safe-havens and benefiting from de-dollarisation in global reserves. But at the same time, some firms argue the rally may be overstretched: one analysis warned that with gold already up so sharply this year, its next move could be a “mini-bust,” with projections that prices might fall toward $3,500 by 2026 if support from central-bank demand weakens.

Forecasts for 2026 have also shifted. A poll of analysts and traders indicates a median expectation that average gold prices will exceed $4,000 per ounce next year – a milestone in itself – although forecasts vary widely, reflecting both optimism and caution. On the upside, institutions such as Goldman Sachs remain bullish, pointing to potential further gains on the back of monetary accommodation and geopolitical risk. On the downside, if trade tensions ease and inflation moderates, some believe gold could correct.

The interplay between stimulus expectations and dollar dynamics remains crucial. A softer dollar supports gold, but if authorities signal confidence in economic recovery and maintain higher interest rates, gold’s appeal could diminish because it offers no yield. Additionally, the safe-haven narrative is under pressure as expectations of improved US-China relations gain traction, which may lower investors’ impetus to hold gold purely for risk hedging.

Strength in demand from global central banks has supported prices thus far, but market watchers caution that this may face constraints as gold holdings rise and incremental purchases become harder. For now, the up-move above $4,000 may signal a tentative buying opportunity for traders who believe a rate-cut cycle is on the horizon. For longer-term investors though, vigilance remains essential, as valuations are elevated and market dynamics could shift rapidly.

China’s securities regulator has rolled out a sweeping reform package designed to simplify access for overseas institutional investors and bolster long-term capital flows into its stock and bond markets. The China Securities Regulatory Commission announced that it will streamline the existing regime for the so-called qualified foreign investor framework, including loosening qualification thresholds, expanding investment scope and reducing administrative friction.

At a policy forum in Beijing, CSRC Chairman Wu Qing stated that the reforms aim to make China’s capital markets “more inclusive, adaptable and globally competitive”. He said the regulator plans to introduce a shelf-based refinancing mechanism and simplify filing procedures for overseas listings, aligning with the broader effort to diversify asset allocations amid global uncertainty.

The reforms are anchored on three pillars: easing eligibility for overseas institutional investors, enhancing operational flexibility for capital flows and broadening the range of permissible investments. Legal-and-regulatory briefings indicate that registration channels will be modernised; for example, in the revised framework for the earlier QFII/RQFII regime, a single renminbi account may now serve both securities and derivatives trading and repatriation of returns is simplified.

The timing of the reforms signals China’s intent to rebuild investor confidence amid a decelerating economy and mounting international competition for capital. Analysts note that the removal of quotas in earlier iterations of the programme set the stage for this deeper opening. Foreign asset-managers are expected to interpret this as a signal that Beijing is actively courting long-term commitments, rather than purely speculative flows.

From the perspective of global investors, these changes may unlock previously inaccessible segments of China’s markets. The A-share universe on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange has grown substantially, and the relaxations open the door to a wider number of institutions, countries and asset classes than in the past. Strategically, this aligns with China’s dual-track agenda of promoting internal consumption while also continuing to integrate with global finance.

Nevertheless, the loosening of rules carries risks and constraints. Although administrative barriers are being reduced, foreign institutions must still satisfy substantive criteria—including governance standards, compliance records and suitability for RMB-denominated investment. The commercial and geopolitical environment remains complex, and international concerns around transparency, data security and regulatory predictability persist. Moreover, while quotas may be reduced or removed, factors such as currency volatility, capital controls and domestic market sentiment will continue to influence investor decisions.

Market participants appear cautiously optimistic. A number of global asset-managers have publicly stated that they will monitor how implementation unfolds and whether domestic on-shore brokers and custodians adapt swiftly to the new rules. Some expect the real test to come when overseas institutions begin deploying larger mandates into the Chinese on-shore market and engaging in longer-term allocations rather than short-term trading.

From the government’s perspective, the drive to attract long-term capital is part of a broader reform push. China is not only seeking external capital but also attempting to deepen its domestic investor base, scale up passive and index-based investment, and reduce reliance on short-term speculative flows. The regulatory strategy suggests that policymakers believe structural openness will enhance market resilience and support sustainable growth.

Saudi Arabia’s flagship New Murabba project is poised to become a major investment hub, with plans to attract capital in technology, real estate, and construction sectors. Michael Dyke, the CEO of New Murabba, announced the initiative at the Fortune Global Forum in Riyadh, marking a significant step forward in the kingdom’s diversification strategy.

Launched in 2023 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the New Murabba project is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030, aimed at reducing the nation’s reliance on oil revenues by fostering new industries and boosting economic growth. The initiative aims to transform the heart of Riyadh into a sprawling mixed-use urban area, poised to redefine the cityscape with a mix of residential, commercial, and entertainment offerings.

The project will cover an area of 19 square kilometres, positioning it as one of the largest urban developments globally. Its scale is unprecedented, making it one of the most ambitious projects in Saudi Arabia’s recent history. The new district is expected to accommodate over 100,000 residents and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in various sectors, significantly contributing to Riyadh’s economic development.

One of the key areas that Dyke highlighted during his speech at the forum is the focus on technology. The New Murabba project aims to integrate cutting-edge technological innovations into its design and infrastructure. The development will feature smart city technologies, including AI-driven systems for traffic management, energy conservation, and public services. Moreover, the project is expected to foster a thriving ecosystem for tech startups and established companies, making it an attractive destination for both domestic and international tech investors.

The project’s real estate and construction sectors will also play a pivotal role. With residential spaces, luxury hotels, office towers, and retail outlets planned, the project is designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of residents, businesses, and tourists. This focus on mixed-use developments aims to create a self-sustaining urban area, with a heavy emphasis on sustainability and green architecture. Additionally, the construction phase alone is expected to generate significant economic activity, providing a substantial number of jobs in the kingdom’s building sector.

New Murabba’s strategic location within Riyadh further boosts its potential as a central business and cultural district. It will be positioned in close proximity to key landmarks, including the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre and the King Saud University, enhancing its accessibility and making it a focal point for both locals and visitors. The project’s proximity to the King Khalid International Airport is also expected to make it a prime location for international businesses, especially in the tech and tourism industries.

The Saudi government’s backing of the New Murabba initiative signals a strong commitment to its diversification efforts. As part of the Vision 2030 programme, the kingdom is looking to foster a more sustainable and diversified economy, moving away from its dependence on oil exports. This development aligns with broader trends in urbanisation across the Middle East, where large-scale projects are shaping the future of cities and driving economic change.

The investment opportunities presented by New Murabba are expected to attract a wide range of investors from various sectors. For real estate developers, the sheer scale of the project represents an unparalleled opportunity. For technology firms, the integration of smart city technologies offers a unique environment in which to develop and test innovative solutions. Meanwhile, the construction sector stands to benefit greatly from the demand for infrastructure and buildings, with the long-term potential for growth in both residential and commercial spaces.

With the Saudi government’s push for private sector involvement, the New Murabba project is expected to be a catalyst for further investments in the kingdom. The involvement of international investors and companies will be crucial to its success, with the project acting as a gateway to other opportunities within Saudi Arabia’s growing economy.

The cancellation of the highly anticipated initial public offering by UAE-based classifieds giant Dubizzle has raised serious concerns about the current state of the Middle East’s equity capital markets. Once viewed as a promising player in the region’s IPO landscape, Dubizzle’s decision to abandon its listing highlights the significant challenges the Middle East faces in generating investor confidence after a year of lacklustre aftermarket performance.

Dubizzle’s IPO was set to value the company at approximately US$2 billion, a deal that was initially expected to attract substantial interest from both regional and international investors. However, a series of setbacks, including a sharp downturn in market conditions, led to its eventual abandonment. “It’s a complete disaster for the region,” remarked a UAE-based investor, underscoring the gravity of the situation. This sentiment is echoed by many analysts who point to the stark contrast between the current climate and the boom years that saw the Middle East emerge as a dominant force in EMEA ECM.

The UAE’s IPO market has long been a significant player in the regional capital markets. Over the last few years, the area had enjoyed strong performances from listings such as the floatation of ADNOC Drilling and Dubai’s top retail operator, EMIRATES NBD. These successes painted a rosy picture of the region as a flourishing hub for high-profile public offerings. However, 2024’s market performance has been far from reflective of that growth. The Dubizzle setback is just the latest in a series of underwhelming IPO results, a trend that analysts attribute to a combination of factors, including investor caution, regional political instability, and global market headwinds.

Investor sentiment had already been fragile due to the underperformance of several high-profile companies post-IPO. Notably, Talabat, the online delivery service, saw its stock plunge nearly 40% from its initial issue price, while construction giant Alec Holdings also experienced significant losses. Both companies, initially thought to be solid IPO candidates, have fallen victim to what some analysts are calling an “overheated market” in 2023, where optimism led to inflated valuations. These negative outcomes have made investors more reluctant to engage in new listings, further dampening the appeal of subsequent IPOs, including Dubizzle.

Market observers point out that the combination of volatile regional economic conditions, which include oil price fluctuations and rising inflation, has contributed to a cautious outlook. The global economic environment, particularly in Europe and the United States, also has ripple effects in emerging markets like the UAE, with rising interest rates and a slowing global economy compounding investor fears of weak returns. These external pressures have combined with a tightening regulatory environment in the region, adding to the difficulties of orchestrating a successful IPO.

As the region grapples with these challenges, many are questioning whether the Middle East’s ECM sector can regain its former momentum. The last few years witnessed an influx of private equity and venture capital investments into the region’s tech startups, which fueled expectations that these companies would eventually go public and bolster the stock market. However, the persistent volatility and failure of IPOs to deliver on their promise have now raised doubts over whether such investments will yield the expected returns.

A partnership between the investment firm Orion Resource Partners, the U. S. International Development Finance Corporation and sovereign investor ADQ has launched a major critical-minerals fund, mobilising an initial $1.8 billion in capital with a target of up to $5 billion to support supply-chain development of essential raw materials. The initiative, known as the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, aims to invest in and scale near-term producing assets for minerals such as copper, cobalt and rare earths, in line with partner-government industrial and security goals. The DFC has confirmed its cornerstone commitment, matched by funds managed by Orion and ADQ, creating the foundation of the expanding pool of capital.

The fund emerges amid heightened concern in Washington over the concentration of critical-minerals processing in rival economies and the lag in Western investment, with deferred permitting, falling ore grades and decelerating mine-development pipelines cited as systemic pressures. Orion, which manages around $8 billion in assets and has global mining-finance experience, brings its platform into the consortium, while ADQ’s prior joint venture with Orion—announced earlier this year for $1.2 billion—provides a blueprint for the strategic partnership. The fresh consortium will prioritise assets capable of delivering supply within a shorter timeframe rather than frontier exploration, signalling a shift towards faster-payback, lower-development-risk opportunities.

The strategic calculus ties directly into U. S. national-security and industrial-policy ambitions. “Securing critical minerals is a paramount matter of U. S. strategic interest and economic prosperity,” said DFC CEO Ben Black. Orion founder and CEO Oskar Lewnowski described the consortium as a “bridge” between emerging-market production jurisdictions and advanced-manufacturing demand in the U. S. and among allies. The fund will focus on eligible jurisdictions for DFC investment and will integrate production, processing and offtake structures.

The $1.8 billion commitment represents the current scale of the vehicle, with Orion CMC envisaged to grow further as aligned investors join. Observers note that while the headline target is $5 billion, execution will depend on securing suitable assets, navigating permitting and securing host-nation partnerships. The model mirrors the earlier ADQ-Orion joint venture launched in January, which committed to deploy $1.2 billion over its first four years across metals-and-mining investments in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

For Orion and ADQ, this represents an expansion of their earlier alliance: the Abu Dhabi-based JV served both to secure long-term resource links and to align with ADQ’s infrastructure-and-critical-minerals cluster. For the U. S., the consortium marks one of the largest private-sector-linked initiatives in the critical-minerals domain, aligning DFC’s mandate of mobilising private capital abroad with the administration’s aim to reduce strategic vulnerabilities in supply chains.

Challenges remain. Mining projects are long-horizon endeavours, and merely committing funds does not guarantee results. Host-country regulatory regimes, permitting timelines, environmental and social governance constraints and market-price volatility all play roles in investment outcomes. Industry analysts caution that while the push for supply-chain resilience is timely, the gap between intent and delivery is sizeable. Even with $5 billion in capital, global demand for some critical minerals is projected to outstrip supply capacity.

Operationally, the consortium’s emphasis on “existing or near-term producing assets” rather than early-stage exploration is intended to accelerate results and mitigate development risk. That strategy reflects frustration in industry circles with projects that take a decade or more to bring into production. The presence of sovereign-wealth capital, allied-government backing and private-sector mining-finance expertise may create a differentiated pathway for this fund compared with earlier, traditional mining-investment funds.

   By K Raveendran   The market seems to have already done its arithmetic on the new US sanctions on two major Russian oil companies, Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil, gauging the immediate and medium-term consequences for energy supply lines stretching from Moscow to Mumbai. In a matter of hours, crude prices spiked, reflecting not just […]

The article Latest Trump Sanction On Russian Oil Companies Gives Escape Route To India appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Dubai-based investment platform Green Dome Investments has signed a binding agreement to acquire the entire equity stake in cold-chain specialist Transcorp International for AED 225 million. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to complete in the coming weeks.

GDI’s shareholder backing includes SISCO Holding, the Saudi-listed infrastructure investment company that holds a 31.67 per cent stake in GDI. SISCO will contribute AED 75 million towards the acquisition price, with the remainder to be financed through equity from GDI’s shareholders. Transcorp, founded in 2013, operates across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and has built a substantial cold-chain logistics footprint, including warehousing, transportation and last-mile delivery for temperature-sensitive cargo in 50 key cities across the Gulf region, supported by more than 1,000 employees.

GDI’s strategy for the deal is driven by its desire to accelerate growth in the fast-growing temperature-controlled supply-chain segment in the Gulf Cooperation Council markets. The investment complements its existing logistics arm, Elite Co., which focuses on fulfilment, middle-mile and last-mile services, and will now incorporate Transcorp’s cold-chain infrastructure and expertise. According to GDI’s chairman, the acquisition gives the group a stronger presence in Saudi Arabia and positions it to capitalise on what is described as one of the fastest-growing logistics segments in the region.

From a financial performance viewpoint, Transcorp reported revenues of AED 60.8 million in 2022, AED 75.8 million in 2023 and AED 109.4 million in 2024.. Its compound annual growth rate across that period has reportedly been strong, reflecting rising demand in cold-chain services tied to e-commerce, pharmaceuticals and food-service sectors in the GCC. The acquisition therefore aligns with broader regional trends in logistics expansion, infrastructure investment under national initiatives and growing interest from institutional investors in supply-chain resilience.

Analysts note that the deal is part of a wave of consolidation in the Gulf logistics market, especially in niche segments such as temperature-controlled transport and last-mile fulfilment. By integrating Transcorp into its logistics ecosystem, GDI stands to enhance its service offering, widen geographic reach and deepen its customer base. However, risks remain. Integration of operations across multiple jurisdictions and alignment of management, systems and culture will demand careful oversight. The transaction’s successful execution will hinge on regulatory approvals, seamless operational integration and the maintenance of service quality levels which are critical in cold-chain logistics.

From SISCO’s perspective, the investment into GDI underscores its strategy of enabling portfolio companies to capture growth opportunities that bolster long-term value creation. SISCO’s backing of AED 75 million represents a material commitment and underscores confidence in GDI’s growth roadmap. The deal also reinforces the increasing role of Saudi institutional capital in regional logistics expansion, in line with broader economic diversification efforts.

For customers and clients in the logistics market, the enlarged platform that emerges from this transaction could offer more integrated solutions—from cold-storage warehousing and temperature-controlled freight to last-mile delivery capabilities—across multiple Gulf countries. That could translate into improved efficiency, faster delivery cycles and access to a broader network for firms in high-growth sectors such as e-commerce, healthcare and retail. On the flip side, the enlarged scale could bring complexity in operations and may put pressure on margins if the competitive dynamics intensify or if cost inflation rises.