Economy and Policy
Gold edged higher due to physical buying on Tuesday, holding near a one-week peak touched in the previous session, but more outflows from gold exchange-traded funds summed up investors’ weakening confidence in the metal.
Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council has denied reports it has approved moving the weekend forward one day to Friday-Saturday.
Also in Saudi, the country is expected to keep oil output steady throughout the second quarter as more high pace demand in Asia, its biggest oil export market, has yet to materialise.
Companies and Business
Lebanon's BLOM Bank reported first-quarter net profit rose 3.4 percent to $87 million, despite what it described as difficult economic circumstances in the region.
Abu Dhabi-listed Dana Gas is expanding its operations in Egypt and Lebanon.