BLOOMBERG The upturn in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector was maintained at a steady rate in June, as highlighted by a further solid improvement in business conditions. Output and new orders both rose sharply, leading firms to raise their input buying at a marked pace. However, the respective rates of expansion remained subdued in the context of historical data. …

  BLOOMBERG The downturn in Egypt’s non-oil private sector showed few signs of abating midway through 2016. Business conditions worsened for the ninth straight month, driven by ongoing declines in output, new orders and employment. The recent Egyptair incident was reported to have depressed tourism, contributing to another marked reduction in new business from abroad. Panellists mentioned higher prices as …

  BLOOMBERG Two projects worth $45 billion announced this month show the world’s largest oil companies are regaining the confidence to make big investments, emboldened by rising crude prices and low costs that promise to trigger more expansion ahead. Chevron Corp. gave the go-ahead to a $37 billion expansion in Kazakhstan, the industry’s biggest undertaking since crude started tumbling two …