Emirates Business The expansion of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector picked up speed in July, as highlighted by the strongest improvement in business conditions since last November. Output growth was particularly sharp, while new orders also increased at a faster pace. The improvement in demand was broad-based across domestic and international markets – exports rose for the first time …

  Bloomberg Oil halted its slide below $40 a barrel as weekly industry data showed U.S. crude inventories declined, easing a supply glut that’s at the highest seasonal level in at least two decades. Futures added 0.2 percent in New York after slipping 5 percent the previous two sessions. Inventories slid by 1.34 million barrels and gasoline stockpiles fell, the …

  Bloomberg Egyptian officials are holding talks in Cairo with the International Monetary Fund over a loan to help finance the government’s economic program. Egypt is seeking $12 billion over three years. The most-populous Arab country has had a tumultuous relationship with the IMF since the 2011 uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak, turning down two initial loan accords. Some of …