Gold prices rose slightly on Thursday to hover near their highest levels ever, amid continuing concerns over US President Donald Trump's tariff strategies, which could exacerbate inflation and ignite a global trade war.

Kuwait Stock Exchange ended trading today, Thursday, with its general index rising by 39.71 points, or 0.49 percent, to reach 8142.94 points.

China on Thursday kept its one-year benchmark lending rate at 3.1 percent, unchanged from the previous month, a benchmark market-based lending rate.

The Muscat Stock Exchange 30 Index closed today, Wednesday, at 4452.67 points, down 15.9 points and 0.36 percent compared to the last trading session, which amounted to 4468.58 points.

The Ministers of Economy, Industry and Investment, Eng. Maeen Al-Mahaqri, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mohammed Qahim, and Governor of Hodeida, Abdullah Otifi, visited today the Holy Month Consumer Food Exhibition in the city of Hodeida.

The British government has announced multi-billion pound plans to support the country's steel industry and secure its future.

The Australian government announced a ban on the sale of residential real estate to foreign parties in the country for two years.

The Yemeni Organization for Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control continues to conduct field visits to industrial facilities in various governorates, to improve the quality of products and ensure their compliance with approved standard specifications. The current phase includes Hajjah Governorate, where the organization seeks to address the challenges facing factories in coordination with local authorities.

Vietnam in January reduced its coffee exports to Russia by almost half on an annual basis, Russian media said on Friday, as Brazil fully compensated for the lost volumes, becoming the main supplier of coffee beans to Russia.

The Office of Economy, Industry, and Investment in Al-Bayda Governorate launched a field campaign today to monitor markets, businesses, shops, bakeries, and ovens in the districts of the governorate.

Japan’s Nikkei index closed lower on Friday, ending a three-session winning streak, as investors engaged in profit-taking following significant gains in the previous session. A stronger yen also weighed on market sentiment.

The European Commission vowed on Friday to deliver a "firm and immediate response" to U.S. trade barriers after President Donald Trump announced potential tariffs that could impact both allies and competitors.

The annual inflation rate in the United States rose last month at a higher pace than expected, and the index reached 3% in January 2025.

Gold prices rose to a record high on Tuesday, as investors flocked to safe-haven assets after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, raising fears of a trade crisis and worsening inflation.

A new report by the specialized energy platform revealed, on Monday, that Mauritania has officially joined the list of global liquefied gas producers.

The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Investment and the Yemeni Authority for Standards, Metrology and Quality Control called on Tuesday on all traders, manufacturers and importers to quickly register their products and deal through the electronic services portal "Tasheel".

The Kuwait Stock Exchange concluded trading on Tuesday with a rise in its general index by 15.23 points, or 0.19%, reaching 7959.41 points.

Egyptian media revealed, on Monday, that Egypt has agreed to grant a Russian company a petroleum concession in a strategic area, after the latter submitted an offer of more than $20 million.

The Mellitah Gas Complex had completely stopped working due to a sudden technical failure in the power generation units, the Libyan National Oil Corporation said on Saturday.

Gas storage levels in the European Union have fallen to less than 50%, which is more than 18 percentage points less than the previous year, according to data from the Gas Infrastructure Association in Europe.