Gold heads for worst month in over 4 years

Gold prices have been weighed down by the US Federal Reserve System’s sudden hawkish shift. (Shutterstock photo)
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Updated 01 July 2021
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Gold heads for worst month in over 4 years

  • Downturn in bullion comes as the US dollar edges up and US stock indexes reach new records.

BENGALURU, India: Gold nudged up on Wednesday but was headed for its largest monthly decline since November 2016.

The downturn in bullion has come as the US dollar has been edging higher and as US stock indexes have been reaching new records, drawing some buying away from safe havens like gold.

Spot gold rose 0.3 percent to $1,767.01 per ounce by 12:10 p.m. EDT (1610 GMT), having touched its lowest since April 15 at $1,749.20 per ounce on Tuesday. US gold futures fell 0.2 percent to $1,766.40 per ounce.

Michael Matousek, head trader at US Global Investors, attributed gold’s slight uptick to some bargain buying in an “oversold” market with prices having retreated more than 8 percent from the highs hit in early June.

Gold prices have been weighed down by the Fed’s sudden hawkish shift.

“The dollar is rallying, the S&P 500 has consistently forged new record highs,” said Phillip Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures in Chicago.

The dollar index gained 0.4 percent, making gold more expensive for other currency holders.

Additionally, hawkish Fed officials have reaffirmed they are going to raise rates in 2023 as well as start tapering bond purchases. “These are all things gold investors hate,” Streible added.

 


Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to 10,894

Updated 13 January 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to 10,894

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index extended its upward trend for a third consecutive day this week, gaining 148.18 points, or 1.38 percent, to close at 10,893.63 on Tuesday. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR6.05 billion ($1.61 billion), with 144 listed stocks advancing and 107 declining. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also rose by 81.35 points to close at 23,668.29. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index edged up 1.71 percent to 1,460.89. 

The best-performing stock on the main market was Zahrat Al Waha for Trading Co., with its share price advancing 10 percent to SR2.75. 

Shares of CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. increased 8.27 percent to SR23.04, while Abdullah Saad Mohammed Abo Moati for Bookstores Co. saw its stock climb 6.17 percent to SR50.60. 

Conversely, the share price of Naseej International Trading Co. declined 9.90 percent to SR31.48. 

On the announcements front, Arabian Drilling Co. said it secured three contract extensions for land rigs with energy giant Saudi Aramco, totaling SR1.4 billion and adding 25 active rig years to its backlog. 

In a Tadawul statement, the company said one rig is currently operational, the second will begin operations by the end of January, and the third — currently suspended — is expected to resume operations in 2026. 

Since November 2025, Arabian Drilling has secured seven contract extensions amounting to SR3.4 billion, representing 55 committed rig years. 

The three contracts have durations of 10 years, 10 years, and five years, respectively.

“Securing a total of SR1.4 billion in new contracts and expanding our backlog by 25 rig-years demonstrates both the trust our clients place in us and our ability to consistently deliver quality and reliability,” said Ghassan Mirdad, CEO of Arabian Drilling, in a statement. 

Shares of Arabian Drilling Co. rose 3.15 percent to SR104.70. 

Separately, Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies Co. said it signed a 36-month contract valued at SR43.35 million with National Water Co. to operate and maintain water networks, pumping stations, wells, reservoirs, and related facilities in Tabuk. 

In October, Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies Co. announced it had been awarded the contract by NWC. 

In a Tadawul statement, the company said the financial impact of the deal began in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

The share price of Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies Co. declined 0.49 percent to SR120.70.