Attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on January 16, the Greek-owned bulk carrier Zografia is under repair work at the Suez Shipyard in Ismailia, Egypt. EPA
Attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on January 16, the Greek-owned bulk carrier Zografia is under repair work at the Suez Shipyard in Ismailia, Egypt. EPA
Attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on January 16, the Greek-owned bulk carrier Zografia is under repair work at the Suez Shipyard in Ismailia, Egypt. EPA
Oil posted its biggest weekly gain since October as supply concerns continue amid tensions in the Middle East and prospects of higher demand boosted by positive economic growth in the US.
Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world’s oil, rose 1.36 per cent to close at $83.55 a barrel.
West Texas Intermediate, the gauge that tracks US crude, surged 0.84 per cent to settle at $78.01 a barrel.
“Lower US crude stockpiles (largely due to poor weather), the prospect of greater stimulus from China and elevated geopolitical tension in the Middle East have been the main factors behind the rise in oil price … but better than expected growth data from the US and the prospect of earlier monetary policy easing in Europe have also likely contributed to the improved sentiment,” Khatija Haque, head of research and chief economist at Emirates NBD, said.
Middle East tensions continued with Yemen's Houthi rebels attacking ships passing through the Red Sea – a main trade route connecting Asia and Europe – which raised concerns that the attacks could disrupt energy supplies from the Middle East producers.
On Friday, the Marlin Luanda, a petroleum products tanker vessel operated on behalf of Trafigura, was struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden after transiting the Red Sea, according to the company's statement on its website.
QatarEnergy on Thursday said that liquefied natural gas deliveries may be delayed due to disruption in the Red Sea but said production had not been affected.
US crude inventories, an indicator of fuel demand, decreased by 9.2 million barrels in the week that ended on January 19, the data from the US Energy Information Administration showed, supporting oil prices.
Analysts polled by Reuters were expecting a drop of 2.2 million barrels.
“Oil bulls finally got the positive breakout that they were looking for in oil prices,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank.
“The barrel of American crude cleared the $75 per barrel resistance and extended gains past $77 per barrel on the muddy geopolitical picture in the Middle East and on the back of a nine million barrel slump in US weekly oil inventories.”
US economic data as well as China’s stimulus measures have also helped oil prices to edge higher.
The US economy grew in the fourth quarter, despite the Federal Reserve increasing interest rates to tame inflation in the world’s largest economy.
Gross domestic product grew at a 3.3 per cent annual rate from October to December, down from the third quarter's bumper reading of 4.9 per cent, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday.
Despite the slowdown, economic growth still defied expectations. Economists surveyed by TheWall Street Journal projected US GDP to grow at an annualised rate of 2 per cent in the last quarter.
Oil benchmarks may “retain their upwards bias upon a further escalation in global geopolitical tensions, as well as more signals of economic support out of Chinese policymakers”, Han Tan, chief market analyst at Exinity, told The National.
On Wednesday, China's central bank announced a deep cut in bank reserves to release more liquidity to bolster stock valuations.
The move is expected to inject additional 1 trillion yuan ($140 billion) into the country’s banking system.
SERIES INFO
Schedule:
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
1st ODI, Wed Apr 10
2nd ODI, Fri Apr 12
3rd ODI, Sun Apr 14
4th ODI, Sun Apr 16
UAE squad
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Zimbabwe squad
Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
Salah in numbers
€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of €39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.
13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.
57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.
7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.
3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.
40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.
30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.
8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
All matches in Bulawayo Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Mumbai Indians 213/6 (20 ov)
Royal Challengers Bangalore 167/8 (20 ov)
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta) Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli) Best Team: Atalanta Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta) Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia) Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus) Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan) Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Scoreline
Switzerland 5
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
