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RIYADH: Public debt issuers in �������� can now expect faster regulatory reviews if their offerings carry a credit rating, as the Kingdom moves to boost issuance and expand its fixed-income investor base. 

The Capital Market Authority has introduced a fast-track mechanism for public debt offering applications that agencies licensed by the regulator have rated. The incentive will remain in effect through the end of 2026, according to a press release. 

By encouraging issuers to obtain credit ratings, the CMA aims to increase investor participation and improve risk assessment across the market. 

The move comes amid ��������’s ongoing efforts to develop a more diversified and resilient financial system under Vision 2030. 

Strengthening the domestic capital market, particularly fixed income, is a strategic priority for the Kingdom as it seeks to reduce dependence on oil revenues, channel more private capital into economic development, and empower the private sector as a driver of growth. 

“Through this measure, the CMA aims to build a more mature and stable debt instruments market with a diversified investor base and strengthened confidence among all participants,” the statement said.

“A credit rating is not merely an indicator of the issuer’s creditworthiness; rather, it serves as an effective tool enabling investors to make well-informed investment decisions,” it added. 

While ��������’s equity market has seen strong growth in recent years, the debt segment remains relatively underdeveloped compared to global peers. Enhancing transparency and risk differentiation through credit ratings is viewed as key to unlocking greater institutional and foreign investor participation, which in turn supports more competitive pricing and long-term market stability. 

The CMA has already implemented a series of structural reforms to mature the market, including expanding the qualified investor base, enabling foreign ownership of debt securities, and promoting the issuance of sukuk and conventional bonds. 

These reforms are designed to improve capital access for issuers while giving investors better tools to assess risk and return. The latest measure builds on these initiatives by directly linking faster regulatory review to the presence of a third-party credit opinion. 

The regulator expects the move to stimulate a higher volume of rated debt issuances, accelerate application processing, and strengthen market confidence, ultimately fostering a more dynamic and diversified capital market ecosystem. 

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose on Monday after the US clinched a trade deal with the EU and may extend a tariff pause with China, relieving concerns that higher levies could have hurt economic activity and limited fuel demand.

Brent crude futures inched up 61 cents, or 0.89 percent, to $69.05 a barrel by 8:47 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude stood at $65.75 a barrel, up 59 cents, or 0.91 percent.

The US-European Union trade deal and a possible extension in the US-China tariff pause are supporting global financial markets and oil prices, IG markets analyst Tony Sycamore said.

“With the risk of a prolonged trade war and the importance of the August tariff deadlines being steadily defused, markets have responded positively,” he added in a note.

Sunday’s US-EU framework trade pact sets an import tariff of 15 percent on most EU goods, half the threatened rate. The deal averted a bigger trade war between two allies that account for almost one-third of global trade and could crimp fuel demand.

Also set for Monday is a meeting in Stockholm of senior US and Chinese negotiators aiming to extend before an Aug. 12 deadline a truce holding off sharply higher tariffs.

Oil prices settled on Friday at their lowest in three weeks, weighed down by global trade concerns and expectations of more oil supply from Venezuela.

State-run oil company PDVSA is readying to resume work at its joint ventures under terms similar to Biden-era licenses, once US President Donald Trump reinstates authorizations for its partners to operate and export oil under swaps, company sources said.

Though prices were up slightly on Monday, gains were limited by the prospect of OPEC+ further easing supply curbs.

A market monitoring panel of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies is set to meet at 1200 GMT on Monday.

It is unlikely to recommend altering existing plans by eight members to raise oil output by 548,000 barrels per day in August, four OPEC+ delegates said last week, though another source said it was too early to say.

ING expects OPEC+ will at least complete the full return of 2.2 million barrels per day of the additional voluntary supply cuts by the end of September.

That would work out to a supply hike in September of at least 280,000 barrels per day. However, there is clearly room for a more aggressive hike.

The producer group is keen to recover market share while summer demand is helping to absorb the extra barrels.

JP Morgan analysts said global oil demand rose by 600,000 bpd in July on year, while global oil stocks rose 1.6 million bpd.

In the Middle East, Yemen’s Houthis said on Sunday they would target ships of companies that do business with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality, in what they called a fourth phase of military operations against Israel over the Gaza conflict.