News

Gold Hits Record HighSingapore, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Gold traded near record highs today, as US President Donald Trump's threats to acquire Greenland soured global sentiment and sparked a rush into safe-haven ⁠assets. Spot gold hit a new record high of $4,700.28 per ounce, while US gold futures for February delivery climbed 1.8% to $4,676.80 ‌per ounce. Spot silver fell 1.2% to $93.53 an ounce, after hitting a record high of $94.72 earlier in the session. In other precious metals, spot platinum fell 0.6% to $2,359.45 per ounce, while palladium dropped 1.3% to $1,817.44. --- ...

MSX Gains 13 Points Muscat, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed higher today, gaining 0.312 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,246.39 points, registering a rise of 13.3 points from the previous close of 6,233.10 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 24,458,168, reflecting a drop of 43.2 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 43,033,350. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went up by 0.163 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.32 ...

Oman Launches Promotional Campaign in Spain Madrid, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman has launched a promotional campaign covering key attraction sites across the Kingdom of Spain, coinciding with its participation in the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR 2026, which begins tomorrow, Wednesday, in Madrid. The campaign will also cover social media platforms, tourism websites, and global promotional platforms to reach a wider audience. Furthermore, the campaign focuses on promoting specialized tourism patterns such as marine tourism, adventure tourism, golf ...

Workshop Discusses Governance, Mechanisms for Designating Measurement, Calibration Laboratories Muscat, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, in cooperation with the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), organized a workshop today on the designation of measurement and calibration laboratories. The event saw participation from relevant entities across the industrial, health, service, and regulatory sectors, as part of the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen national partnerships and develop the metrological infrastructure in the ...

Oman Oil Price Drops 8 Cents Muscat, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March delivery 2026) today reached 62.22 US Dollars, comprising a drop by 8 cents, compared to the price of yesterday “Monday” which was 62.30 US Dollars. The average price of Oman oil (January delivery 2026) stabilized at 64.44 US Dollars per barrel, thus 60 cents per barrel lower than December delivery 2025. ---Ends/AG ...

Oil Prices Edge HigherSingapore, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oil prices edged higher today following gains in the previous session. Brent crude was trading at $64.19 a barrel, up 6 cents or 0.09%. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February rose 9 cents, or 0.15%, to $59.53 a barrel. The February contract expires tomorrow Tuesday, while the more actively traded March contract was up 5 cents, or 0.08%, at $59.39 a barrel. --- ...

Gold, Silver Surge to Record HighsSingapore, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Gold and silver prices surged to record highs today, as investors ‍flocked to safe-haven assets on intensifying tensions, after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose ⁠extra tariffs on European countries over the control of Greenland. Spot gold climbed 1.6% to $4,670.01 per ounce, after scaling an all-time high of $4,689.39. US gold futures for ‌February delivery jumped 1.8% ‌to $4,677. Spot silver advanced 4.4% to $93.85 per ounce, after hitting a record high of $94.08. In other precious metals, spot platinum ...

Dollar Slips as Investors Seek Safe HavensSingapore, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The US dollar edged lower today as investors shifted toward safe-haven currencies, including the Japanese yen and the Swiss franc, amid concerns over renewed US threats to impose tariffs on Europe over Greenland. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of major currencies, slipped to 99.11 points. In early Asian trading, the euro fell to a seven-week low of $1.1572, while the British pound slid to a one-month low of $1.3321. Both currencies later recovered some of their losses as the dollar came ...

Nikkei Drops on Yen GainsTokyo, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Japan's Nikkei index today declined for the third consecutive day , as geopolitical tensions over Greenland prompted traders to turn to the yen as a safe haven, and the market was affected by economic data that came in below expectations. The Nikkei fell 0.6 percent to close at 53,583.57 points, while the broader Topix index slipped 0.1 percent to 3,656.40 points. Eighty-nine stocks on the Nikkei rose, while 133 stocks fell. Sumitomo Pharma, which dropped 13 percent, was the biggest loser on the index, followed by Toyota Tsusho, down 4.1 ...

European Stocks Drop SharplyBrussels, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- European stocks recorded a sharp decline today after US threats to impose additional tariffs unless the US is allowed to buy Greenland. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 1.3 percent in a gloomy start to a week full of earnings announcements and the World Economic Forum in Davos, which will be under close scrutiny for any indications related to tariffs and geopolitical outlooks. Both the French CAC 40 index fell 1.8 percent, the German DAX index fell 1.4 percent, and the Financial Times 100 index in Britain fell 0.4 percent. --- ...

Omani-Canadian Business Forum Highlights Investment Opportunities in Minerals Sector Muscat, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Ministry of Energy and Minerals organized the Omani-Canadian Business Forum in the minerals sector today in Muscat. The event aims to strengthen cooperation and partnerships between the Sultanate of Oman and Canada and to review promising investment opportunities within the sector. Mohsin Hamad Al Hadhrami, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, emphasized that the forum serves as a vital platform for enhancing bilateral partnerships between Oman ...

New Amendments to Unified Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy Approved Muscat, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Financial Services Authority has issued a decision approving new amendment to the Unified Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy. These amendments include a package of benefits and advantages aimed at expanding the insurance protection system for vehicle insurance policyholders and elevating the quality of services provided. The new improvements include setting specific timeframes for claims settlement and facilitating their procedures. The new version of the policy also includes ...

MSX Gains 9 Points Muscat, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed higher today, gaining 0.15 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,233.10 points, registering a rise of 9.3 points from the previous close of 6,223.77 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 43,033,350, reflecting a drop of 4.3 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 44,977,369. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went up by 0.053 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.27 billion. The trading ...

Tender Results of Government Treasury Bills Worth RO 20 Million Issued Muscat, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The total issuance of Government Treasury Bills amounted to RO 20 million. The value of the allotted Treasury bills amounted to RO 15 million, for a maturity period of 28 days. The average accepted price reached RO 99.706 for every RO 100, and the minimum accepted price arrived at RO 99.700 per RO 100. The average discount rate and the average yield reached 3.83685% and 3.84817%, respectively. The value of the allotted Treasury bills amounted to RO 5 million, for a maturity period ...

Economy Ministry Organizes Workshop on Advantages of Greater Arab Free Trade Area Muscat, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Ministry of Economy is organizing a two-day workshop on the benefits offered under the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) agreement. The workshop, which kicked off in Muscat today, aims to address the challenges posed to Omani companies in their bid to garner the benefits of the GAFTA agreement. It also seeks to build the capacities of these companies to help them meet the agreement’s requirements and deal with the challenges. The workshop ...

Financing Secured for Polysilicon Facility in Sohar Muscat, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- United Solar Holding today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, United Solar Polysilicon (FZC) SPC (USP), has secured US$480 million in term debt financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and partner banks. In addition, the Company announced that USP has secured more than US$400 million in term debt and working capital facilities from local commercial banks. Oman Investment Authority’s (OIA) Future Fund Oman has become United Solar’s largest shareholder, with a total ...

MSX Completes Regulatory, Operational Frameworks for Connectivity with Regional, International Markets Muscat, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX), in collaboration with the Tabadul Hub, announced the signing of a series of agreements with regional and international financial markets, namely the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) and the Astana International Exchange (AIX). The agreements complete the contractual, regulatory, and operational frameworks required to connect Muscat Stock Exchange with these markets through the Tabadul Hub. In parallel, an agreement was ...

Oman Oil Price Drops 40 Cents Muscat, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March delivery 2026) today reached 62.30 US Dollars, comprising a drop by 40 cents, compared to the price of last “Friday” which was 62.70 US Dollars. The average price of Oman oil (January delivery 2026) stabilized at 64.44 US Dollars per barrel, thus 60 cents per barrel lower than December delivery 2025. ---Ends/AG ...

Oman Oil Price Up By 6 Cents Muscat, 15 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The official price of Oman oil (March 2026 delivery) stood at $62.85. The price of Oman oil today saw a rise of 6 cents, compared to yesterday's price of $62.79. It is worth noting that the monthly average price of Oman oil for January 2026 delivery was $64.44 per barrel, down by 60 cents, as against the price of December 2025 delivery. --- Ends/Bishara ...

Oman, Thailand Explore Economic Partnerships Muscat, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Omani-Thai Business Forum, organized by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) today, laid emphasis on consolidating economic partnerships between the private sectors of the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Thailand. The forum reflected the keenness of the OCCI to enhance Oman's international economic relations and support the presence of the Omani private sector in global markets. The forum focused on vital sectors, including trade, agriculture, health and beauty, textiles, food ...

Food Factory Opens in Khazaen Economic City Worth RO 25 Million Investment Barka, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Food Development Company, a subsidiary of Salalah Mills Company, celebrated today the opening of its bakery products manufacturing plant in Khazaen Economic City, located in the Wilayat of Barka, South Al Batinah Governorate. The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Eng. Masoud Said Al Hashmi, Governor of South Al Batinah, in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Bakri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for ...

Gold Near Record-Highs, Silver Surpasses $90Singapore, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Gold rose on today, holding near record highs set in the previous session, while silver set another all-time high, ‍nearing the $90 mark, as softer-than-expected ‍US inflation readings cemented US interest rate cut bets. Spot gold rose ​0.6% to $4,615.85 per ounce. Bullion hit a record high of $4,634.33 on Tuesday. US gold futures for February delivery rose 0.5% to $4,624.0. Among other precious metals, spot silver rose above $90 an ounce for the first time, platinum climbed 3.5% to $2,405.30 per ounce, a ...

Dollar Steadies as Yen Falls to 18-Month LowSingapore, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The US dollar held near a one-month high, while the Japanese yen fell to its lowest level since July 2024 at 159.45 per dollar. The Dollar Index, which measures the performance of the US currency against six currencies, was steady at 99.154 points after recovering losses it suffered last Monday. The yen fell to its lowest level in a year and a half, down 0.2 percent to 159.45 against the dollar, its weakest level versus the US currency since July 2024. Meanwhile, the euro was steady at USD 1.1644, while the British ...

European Shares Rise on Energy StocksBrussels, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- European stocks recovered during today's trading after a slight decline in the previous session, supported by gains in shares of energy companies RWE and SSE, which helped push the utilities sector index higher. The utilities index posted gains of 1 percent, with shares of the two companies leading the list of gainers, putting the index on track to end a two-session losing streak. The European STOXX 600 index rose 0.3 percent by 08:12 GMT, recovering from a 0.1 percent decline in the previous session. The German DAX index ...

MSX Drops 45 Points Muscat, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) main index closed lower today, dropping by 0.74 percent. The MSX 30 Index concluded the trading session at 6,223.77 points, registering a decline of 45.7 points from the previous close of 6,178.11 points. Total trading turnover reached RO 44,977,369, reflecting a rise of 63.3 percent compared to the previous session's value of RO 27,540,979. MSX market report noted that the overall market capitalization went up by 0.379 percent from the last trading day to approximately RO 33.25 ...

Oman Oil Price Rises 58 Cents Muscat, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Oman oil price (March delivery 2026) today reached 62.79 US Dollars, comprising a rise by 58 cents, compared to the price of yesterday “Tuesday” which was 62.21 US Dollars. The average price of Oman oil (January delivery 2026) stabilized at 64.44 US Dollars per barrel, thus 60 cents per barrel lower than December delivery 2025. ---Ends/AG ...

Gold Eases after Breaching $4600Singapore, 13 Jan (ONA) --- Gold eased today, a day after breaching $4,600/ounce for ‍the first time ever, as investors booked profits amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Spot gold fell 0.4% to $4,576.79 per ounce. Bullion hit a record high of $4,629.94 on Monday. US gold futures for ‌February delivery ‌lost 0.6% to $4,585.40. Spot silver shed 1.6% to $83.62 per ounce after hitting an all-time high of $86.22 on Monday. Spot platinum lost 2.5% to $2,283.95 per ounce after scaling a record peak of $2,478.50 on December 29. Palladium slid ...

Dollar Recovers While Yen Falls to One-And-Half-Year LowSingapore, 13 Jan (ONA) --- The dollar index recovered marginally to 99.01, having clocked its worst day in three weeks in the previous session, while the Japanese yen fell to its lowest level since July 2024 to 158.975 per dollar. The euro eased 0.08% to $1.1657, having risen as much as 0.5% in the previous session, while sterling was up 0.07% at $1.3475, extending Monday's 0.47% gain. The Swiss franc was flat at 0.7976 per dollar. The Australian dollar eased 0.04% to $0.6707. The New Zealand dollar rose 0.1% to $0.5777. ...

Major Stock Indexes in Japan Close at Record LevelsTokyo, 13 Jan (ONA) --- Major stock indexes in Japan closed at record levels today, with the Nikkei index surpassing 53,000 points for the first time. The Nikkei stock index (225 shares) rose by 1,609.27 points, or 3.10 percent, from Friday to 53,549.16 points. The broader Topix index also closed up by 84.78 points, or 2.41 percent, at 3,598.89 points, with both indexes recording their highest levels ever during the trading ...

European Shares Hit Record HighBrussels, 13 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- European stocks recorded a record high today, as investors assessed a series of corporate results ahead of the release of US inflation data. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.1 percent, and Germany's DAX index rose marginally amid volatile trading, approaching an 11-day winning streak, the longest series of gains since 2014 if current levels hold. Shares of Danish offshore wind energy company Ørsted jumped 5.7 percent to the highest level in a month. ...