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By Satyaki Chakraborty The Communist Party of India(CPI) concluded its five day Party Congress at Chandigarh on September 25 reelecting D. Raja as the general secretary of the CPI for another three year term. Raja is the first dalit leader to head the CPI in 2019 after the then party secretary S Sudhakar Reddy sought […]

The article CPI’s 25th Party Congress Elects D Raja As The General Secretary For The Third Time appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

By Nitya Chakraborty India’s South Asia diplomacy is proving a disaster as the neighbouring countries of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are discussing in details the issue of the revival of SAARC which has been lying inactive in the political arena since 2016 due to India’s decision not to deal with Pakistan […]

The article How Narendra Modi’s Ego Has Destroyed India’s South Asian Diplomacy In The Recent Past? appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Saudi Arabia’s capital markets are poised for a transformative leap as the Capital Market Authority moves toward allowing foreigners to hold more than 49 percent stakes in listed firms, marking one of the most consequential policy reversals in decades. Abdulaziz Abdulmohsen Bin Hassan, a CMA board member, confirmed that the regulator is in advanced stages of softening the ownership ceiling.

The current 49 percent cap on foreign ownership, introduced in the latest regulations, restricts the extent to which overseas investors can control local companies. Under the new proposal, non-Saudi investors would be able to exceed that threshold in select cases. The CMA has not publicly disclosed the new upper limit, but Bin Hassan suggested that the change could take effect before the end of the year.

Market analysts view this as a critical push by Saudi authorities to deepen global investor participation in the Kingdom’s equity market. By raising the allowable foreign shareholding, Saudi stocks would likely climb in weighting within MSCI and FTSE emerging-market indexes, thus drawing fresh capital flows.

Despite the momentum, several caveats remain. The draft change still requires sign-offs from multiple government bodies. Observers note that any permitted increase may come with conditions—such as lock-in periods, sectoral restrictions, or thresholds specific to strategic or institutional investors.

Over the past year, Saudi regulators have introduced a series of capital market reforms to bridge the gap between local standards and international norms. In July, the CMA approved amendments to rules governing investment funds and procedures for opening investment accounts for foreign individuals and institutions. Those changes broadened access and simplified cross-border investment mechanisms.

Under current rules, a foreign strategic investor is exempt from the 49 percent cap if it commits to holding shares for at least two years. These strategic investors are often long-term institutional players with operational or financial interests in the Kingdom. The expanded ownership proposal may build on this classification.

In 2025, Saudi Arabia also opened the door to foreign investment in listed companies owning real estate in Mecca and Medina—previously off limits to non-Saudi investors. That move allowed participation in shares and convertible instruments up to 49 percent.

For many Gulf and global fund managers, the prospective loosening is a signal that Saudi markets are gearing up to compete more aggressively with financial hubs like Dubai and Singapore. Some institutional investors have been reluctant to commit heavily to Saudi equities due to restrictions on ownership, market liquidity and governance complexity.

But not everyone is unconstrained by the cap: a handful of foreign firms already command regulatory exceptions or use swap agreements and licenced intermediaries to gain indirect exposure. The push to raise the ownership ceiling could simplify such structures or render them unnecessary.

Saudi sovereign and public funds may play a central role in cushioning any shocks from greater foreign participation. Observers expect state-backed capital to anchor or co-invest in large deals, reinforcing stability.

China’s solar manufacturing industry is under pressure as Beijing intensifies efforts to restrain aggressive pricing tactics and eliminate surplus capacity. The National Energy Administration has signalled that firms engaging in destructive price competition will face stricter oversight, while draft regulations threaten shutdowns of plants that fail to comply with energy efficiency standards.

Wang Hongzhi, head of the NEA, published a directive ordering more balanced alignment between supply and demand, with emphasis on improving quality across the solar value chain. His message highlights that continued overcapacity and “cut-throat competition” must be contained to preserve the viability of the sector.

A key focus lies in the polysilicon segment. New standards proposed by China’s Standardization Administration would require factories to meet energy consumption thresholds—6.4 kgce/kg initially, and 5.5 kgce/kg after remediation. Facilities failing to upgrade would be shut. These rules could remove about 16.4 percent of capacity, trimming effective production to roughly 2.4 million metric tons annually.

At the same time, major polysilicon producers are planning capacity cuts via a 50 billion yuan consolidation fund. That plan aims to retire roughly one-third of low-efficiency production and impose output quotas akin to those used by oil producers. The expected cutback would reduce capacity from approximately 3.25 million tons to around 2 million.

Industry ministry meetings with solar firms have escalated in frequency, with Li Lecheng of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reiterating the need to phase out outdated lines, raise product standards, and enforce self-discipline among companies. The government is pushing for cleaner governance, stiffer quality controls, and curbs on unfair price undercutting. Several top-tier firms—LONGi, Trina, JA Solar, GCL, and others—attended these discussions.

Financial pressures on the solar sector have been acute. In 2024, the manufacturing chain posted losses of about US$40 billion. Many firms slashed their workforce by nearly a third. Utilisation rates in polysilicon and module production have hovered near 50 percent, constraining margins. Recent easing of pricing pressures shows polysilicon prices rebounding as the market anticipates tighter supply control.

Emerging leaders in next-generation module technology may gain an edge as the sector readjusts. N-type modules—such as TOPCon and HJT types—are being seen by some manufacturers as instruments to command premium pricing and differentiate from low-cost rivals. Companies that invest early could secure advantages in both domestic and export markets.

A longer-term obstacle is aligning central directives with local compliance. Local governments have historically defended regional solar output through subsidies, land allocation, and lax enforcement. Analysts warn that meeting the central government’s expectations may prove disruptive to local industrial planning. Enforcement is anticipated to ramp over the coming months.

China is pursuing arrangements with allied central banks to store foreign sovereign gold within its territory, aiming to elevate its influence over global bullion holdings. The People’s Bank of China is deploying the Shanghai Gold Exchange as a vehicle to attract sovereign clients to park bullion inside China. At least one Southeast Asian country has expressed interest.

Officials involved say that the proposal involves central banks of “friendly” states buying gold and placing it in warehouses tied to the Shanghai Gold Exchange. This builds on China’s strategy of diversifying reserves and enhancing its status in global bullion markets.

China’s own gold holdings are growing steadily. As of July, its official international reserves included approximately 73.96 million ounces of gold, up from 73.9 million the month before. That marks nine months of continuous growth. At that point gold accounted for about 7% of China’s foreign reserves—well below the global average of around 15%. Analysts said China is likely to continue buying gold while moderately reducing holdings of US Treasuries, both to strengthen the renminbi’s international standing and mitigate exposure to dollar-linked risks.

Gold-buying by China fits into a larger global trend among central banks. Many are raising their allocation to gold as a hedge against geopolitical risks, inflation, and the uncertainty of reliance on major foreign currencies. Market watchers note that China’s moves are consistent with efforts from BRICS countries to build financial infrastructure and reserve mechanisms less dependent on dollar-centred systems.

For China, becoming a custodian for others’ gold reserves would represent a significant shift. It would mean not only controlling its own gold supply but also offering vaulting, storage, and custodial services to foreign sovereign clients. Such an arrangement would involve regulatory, security, and diplomatic considerations—from ensuring physical security of bullion to managing compliance with international rules around audits, transparency, and cross-border transfers.

Questions remain about how much demand exists among sovereigns for such an arrangement. The identity of the Southeast Asian country showing interest has not been confirmed. Some central banks prefer keeping reserves offshore for perceived neutrality or diversification of geographic risk. Others may hesitate due to concerns over sovereignty, geopolitical leverage, or storage fees and logistics.

China’s global gold purchases continue regardless. Observers point to continued accumulation of gold by the People’s Bank of China, a trend seen in the State Administration of Foreign Exchange data. Gold holdings have increased month after month, even as foreign exchange reserves fluctuate.

Aldar Properties has increased its ownership stake in Aldar Estates to 82.55%, acquiring the 17.45% indirect share held by Modon Holding via its wholly-owned subsidiary ADNEC Group. The move solidifies Aldar’s dominance over the region’s largest integrated real-estate service platform.

Aldar Estates, formed through a merger of Aldar, IHC, and ADNEC’s property and facilities management businesses, has seen strong growth since its establishment in 2023. Aldar now holds outright control following the ADNEC-Modon exit.

Under Aldar’s direction, the platform manages roughly 155,000 residential units, and has almost doubled its prime retail and commercial leasable space to two million square metres. Contracts under management are now said to exceed AED 3 billion. These figures reflect ambitious expansion in recurring-income services.

Financially, Aldar Estates delivered revenues of about AED 2.6 billion in 2024, with EBITDA near AED 400 million, forming a growing part of Aldar’s overall strategy to emphasise stable income-streams outside pure property development. Aldar Investment oversees a broader AED 47 billion portfolio of income-generating assets.

Aldar’s Chief Executive of Aldar Investment, Jassem Salah Busaibe, said that the business is well positioned for further scale-up given increasing demand in property, facilities, and community services, along with a rising base of third-party clients. Gordons in landscaping, technical services, security, sustainability consulting and community management have been among the areas where Aldar Estates has expanded its offering.