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Bloomberg Business activity in the Arab world’s two largest economies improved at the start of 2021, with the United Arab Emirates seeing growth in its job market. Non-oil private sector activity in Saudi Arabia soared during January as new work levels increased and operating conditions improved in the UAE, helped by an expansion in new orders and output. Purchasing Managers’ …

Bloomberg Oil extended gains after closing at the highest level in more than a year as declines in US and Chinese crude stockpiles added impetus to a rally driven by tightening global supplies. Futures in New York climbed to trade above $55 a barrel. The American Petroleum Institute reported crude inventories fell by 4.3 million barrels last week, people familiar …

Bloomberg Opec and its allies can celebrate their success in buoying world oil markets when they gather this week. But the coalition will soon be faced with some tough choices. Last month’s pledge by Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman to slash production by a further 1 million barrels a day has buttressed global markets against the latest …

Bloomberg Oil rose, following back-to-back weekly declines, as broader markets rallied. With headline prices largely range-bound over the past couple of weeks, the more significant market moves have been in the structure of the oil futures curve. Brent’s second-month contract is the most expensive versus a month later in more than a year. That formation — known as backwardation — …

Bloomberg Chemicals maker Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) expects sales and earnings to increase this year after it beat analysts’ estimates by making a profit in 2020. The Riyadh-based firm, controlled by Saudi Aramco, said it sees the global rollout of coronavirus vaccines leading to a 2% to 5% gain in revenue this year. Pretax income will be “moderately higher” …

Bloomberg The World Bank has committed $12 billion to African countries to support vaccination programs across a continent that hasn’t been able to keep pace with developed nations’ rollouts. The World Bank money will be in the form of grants or on “highly concessional terms,” said David Malpass, president of the World Bank, in a statement following a virtual meeting …

Bloomberg American oil executives began a pushback against some of President Joe Biden’s climate policies by making the case that fossil fuels from US shale have a lower carbon footprint than imports. Since taking office this month, the Biden administration has made swift moves to pause sales of oil and gas leases on federal land, cancel the Keystone XL pipeline …

Bloomberg Airlines could “substantially” reduce their fuel consumption if planes become more efficient at riding the wind, according to new research. Commercial flights between New York and London during the 2019-2020 winter could have used as much as 16% less fuel if pilots had taken full advantage of the jet stream, scientists at the University of Reading said in a …

Bloomberg Oil rose to trade near $53 a barrel in New York as concerns over the pandemic’s latest hit to demand were tempered by signs of tighter global supply. Futures in New York increased 0.4% after rising 1%. A flare-up of the coronavirus in China is threatening fuel demand during the Lunar New Year period, with the government encouraging millions …

KIEV / WAM UAE Ambassador to Ukraine Salem Ahmed Al Kaabi and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Kuleba Dmytro, have discussed ways to develop relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries across various fields of mutual interest. They also discussed efforts to confront the Covid-19 pandemic. Kuleba affirmed the interest of the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, to …