When America sneezes, the rest of the world catches cold, goes the old adage. But it’s equally true that if California is feeling poorly, the rest of the US will also be under the weather.

Saudi Arabia this week took a welcome step along the path to streamlining its domestic financial infrastructure with the merger of two pension and social security fund entities.

Brent crude seems to have set at least a new floor above $70, and even West Texas Intermediate — the biggest victim of the price collapse of just over a year ago — is also reaching multi-year highs. Yet US shale appears to be stuck in a rut.

From the vantage point of the lobby of the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, the post-pandemic world looks an increasingly optimistic place.

It has been a big week of symbolism for the energy transition, with two events that could be interpreted as landmarks on the road to the Paris Agreement’s 2050 goal of net-zero carbon emissions and a cleaner planet.

Global stock markets — the Saudi Tadawul included — suffered a surge of panic last week on the fear of higher inflation.

Just as the world begins to recover from the impact of the pandemic recession, the so-called “specter” of inflation is said to be rearing its head over the global economy.

The US economy is “ready for take-off,” American President Joe Biden said in his first speech to Congress; news the rest of the world has been waiting to hear for a long time.

I boarded a Boeing 777 just over a week ago for the 16-hour flight to Los Angeles with three goals in mind.

To see my granddaughters who live in California, especially six-month-old Uma Grace, for the first time.