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Chinese Premier Li Qiang welcomed increased participation from Italian companies in the Chinese market and expressed hope for a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors in Italy, the state-run Xinhua news agency said on Sunday.Li's comments follow his meeting with Italian President Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg. Beijing will continue to promote two-way openness with Italy and maintain bilateral engagement at all levels, Li said, according to Xinhua."China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Italy within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the G20 and building broader consensus," he said. Italy, despite supporting a 2024 decision by the European Commission to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, has tried to stay in Beijing's good books, frequently highlighting the value of Chinese investment and collaboration in Europe.Meloni's office said she and Li had agreed on the "importance of maintaining constructive dialogue across all areas of common interest," in particular balanced growth in trade and mutual investment and strengthening cooperation in the scientific and cultural fields.The Italian leader "stressed the need to ensure a level playing field for companies operating in international markets and to guarantee the security of global supply chains, especially with regard to components essential for industrial production," her office said in a statement on Saturday.

With US stocks in the midst of a grim month, investors will look in the coming week for signs of strength in the US consumer with Black Friday putting the spotlight on the holiday shopping season. The rally in stocks has stalled in November, with the benchmark S&P 500 declining more than 4% so far during the month.Strong quarterly results from semiconductor giant Nvidia Corp failed on Thursday to calm markets, which have been rattled by concerns about elevated valuations and questions about returns on massive corporate investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure.Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, will now come under Wall Street's microscope. The trading week will be interrupted by the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, followed by Black Friday, known for ushering in discounts, then Cyber Monday and holiday shopping promotions heading into year end.Recent readings have shown a slump in consumer sentiment, while other data has been missing due to the government shutdown. This could make any signals about holiday spending more significant than usual. "From a sentiment standpoint, the early reads we get on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, due to the lack of data we have, will be important," said Chris Fasciano, chief market strategist at Commonwealth Financial Network. "The entirety of the holiday shopping period will be an important read for where we are with the consumer and what that means for the economy."While the S&P 500 remains up 11% year-to-date, it has declined just over 5% from its late October all-time high. The Cboe Volatility index on Thursday posted its highest closing level since April. Stock market performance could factor into how consumers spend over the holidays, particularly those with higher incomes who are more invested in equities.Despite the recent wobble, the S&P 500 has soared over 80% since its latest bull market began just over three years ago. "If you get a pullback there, a lot of the wealth in the upper income is in the stock market... so it will be interesting to see if they spend like they have in the past," said Doug Beath, global equity strategist at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute.This month, the National Retail Federation said it expected US holiday sales to surpass $1tn for the first time. Still, that November-December forecast equated to growth of between 3.7% and 4.2% from the year-earlier period, slower than the 4.3% growth in 2024.Household balance sheets are "in a very strong place," yet slowing employment growth could pressure holiday spending, said Michael Pearce, deputy chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics. "The most important factor for consumer spending is the health of the labour market," Pearce said. Data from the delayed monthly employment report released on Thursday showed US job growth accelerated in September.But the unemployment rate increased to a four-year high of 4.4%. Persistently firm inflation, with import tariffs contributing to higher prices, also could weigh on spending, Pearce said. Holiday shopping is critical for retailers.Walmart on Thursday raised its annual forecasts in a signal of confidence heading into year end. Reports from other retailers during the week were mixed. Another read on the consumer will come with Tuesday's release of US retail sales for September.That report has been delayed along with other government releases because of the 43-day federal shutdown that ended earlier this month. The influx of pent-up data in the coming weeks could further ramp up volatility for investors as they assess the economy's health and prospects that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its December 9-10 meeting.Following the September jobs report, which will be the last monthly employment release before the next Fed meeting, Fed funds futures late on Thursday reflected a 67% chance the central bank would hold rates steady in December after quarter-point cuts in each of the prior two meetings. Morgan Stanley economists said on Thursday they no longer expected the Fed to ease in December but they project three cuts in 2026. "The policy rate path remains highly data-dependent," the Morgan Stanley economists said in a note. "In our view, a mixed report means the committee will want to see more data before taking another step."

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) is facilitating "constructive dialogues" with the global institutional investors to better enhance investment appeal as it showcased listed companies in New York as part of measures to increase the visibility of the country's capital market in the international arena.In this regard, the QSE successfully concluded its New York roadshow, hosted at Bank of America in New York City this week, showcasing leading blue-chip listed companies to a high-profile audience of global institutional investors, resulting in more than 80 one-on-one meetings with major buy-side firms. "By collaborating with Bank of America, the QSE continues to facilitate constructive dialogue between listed companies and global market participants, supporting greater visibility for Qatar’s capital market across major financial centres," said its spokesman.The delegation highlighted the depth, resilience, and diversity of Qatar’s equity market, reinforcing the competitiveness of the nation’s publicly listed companies, which now stands at 53 with a combined market capitalisation of about QR634bn. The roadshow provided a platform for participating companies to showcase their performance, growth outlook, and market fundamentals. Over the course of the event, investors held a series of one-on-one and group meetings with Qatari corporates, reflecting strong international interest in Qatar’s capital market.The New York Roadshow forms part of QSE’s broader efforts to enhance international investor engagement in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the objectives of the Third Financial Sector Strategy, which emphasise deeper financial markets, stronger global connectivity, and diversified economic development.The event also underscored the close alignment between the QSE and its listed companies, demonstrating a shared commitment to transparency, effective engagement, and long-term market development.The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country's sovereign wealth fund, had entered into a strategic partnership with Fiera Capital to launch the $200mn Fiera Qatar Equity Fund, a landmark initiative aimed at enhancing market liquidity, increasing the free float of Qatari equities, and attracting new institutional capital to the Qatari market.The collaboration with Fiera Capital marks another important milestone in expanding market participation and supporting the long-term growth of Qatar's financial ecosystem. QIA has been instrumental in strengthening Qatar’s capital markets through a series of targeted programmes, including the market making initiative, the securities lending and borrowing framework, and the active asset management initiative launched in 2024. These efforts have already delivered tangible results, including the $200mn Qatar-focused equity fund launched in partnership with Ashmore Group.Qatar’s financial markets continue to demonstrate strong and consistent performance, reflecting sustained growth driven by the resilience of the national economy and effective collaboration among key stakeholders of Qatar’s financial markets to advance market infrastructure and regulatory development. This momentum is supported by a combination of structural strengths, including market depth, a diversified investor base, strategic product innovation, enhanced liquidity, and evolving regulatory frameworks.

Turbulence in technology stocks could ratchet higher in the coming week as investors react to the quarterly report from Nvidia Corp, the world's largest company by market value that is at the heart of Wall Street's artificial intelligence trade. On Thursday, the benchmark S&P 500 equity index gave up gains from earlier in the week, as uncertainty about the economic outlook and path for US interest rates undercut optimism over the end of the longest-ever US government shutdown. Investors remained skittish about vulnerability to technology shares, which stumbled this month on concerns AI exuberance has driven up valuations to expensive levels. With its AI chips, semiconductor giant Nvidia has been a bellwether for the theme that has lifted shares of an array of tech names as well as other companies involved in the vast infrastructure expansion to support AI use. Nvidia is the "epicentre" of the build-out of AI, so its results after the bell on Wednesday will be important to the tech sector as well as areas such as industrials and utilities, said Matt Orton, chief market strategist at Raymond James Investment Management. "If you don't see the growth that I think the market is expecting around Nvidia or the positive commentary that we are likely to get from Nvidia going forward, I think you're going to see more of a dent to those sorts of trades," Orton said. Nvidia shares have soared about 1,000% since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. This includes a year-to-date gain of nearly 40% that made Nvidia the first company to surpass $5tn in market value last month. That market heft means the stock's moves can sway equity indexes. Nvidia carries an 8% weight in the S&P 500 and a roughly 10% weight in the widely followed Nasdaq 100. **media[381893]** Analysts on average expect the company to post a 53.8% year-over-year rise in fiscal third quarter earnings per share, on revenue of $54.8bn, according to LSEG. Analysts have also been getting more bullish about the company's future performance, with expectations for the company's fiscal 2027 revenue rising 15% since late May to about $285bn currently, according to LSEG data. "The assumptions that the market is making are positive, it's getting priced into the stock, and how the company guides will be very important," said Melissa Otto, head of research at S&P Global Visible Alpha. Investors will also focus on commentary from Nvidia related to demand or spending trends. Capital expenditures from hyperscalers such as Microsoft and Amazon earlier in the reporting season indicated no signs of slowing in the build-out of data centres and other AI infrastructure. "You're not supposed to have any weakness given all the capital spending commitments from various companies," said Jimmy Chang, chief investment officer of Rockefeller Global Family Office. "Demand should still be looking pretty solid in the current environment." Nvidia's report is one of the biggest remaining market catalysts in 2025. The S&P 500 is logging a roughly 15% year-to-date gain, but Wall Street is wary of concerns stocks are in an "AI bubble." Investors appear to be bringing more scrutiny to AI investment announcements, said James Ragan, co-CIO and director of investment management research at DA Davidson. **media[381894]** "We're moving into a stage where investors are going to demand a little bit more proof of concept in terms of what are the returns, what are the cash flows," Ragan said. Aside from Nvidia's results, quarterly earnings from retailers are due in the coming week including from Walmart and Home Depot. There could also be a batch of economic data releases that were delayed during the shutdown. While the S&P 500 tech sector has struggled so far this month, other sectors are logging solid gains in that time, including healthcare, materials and financials. "There's a realisation that for investors, maybe that AI is not the only game in town," Ragan said.

Over the past decade, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become one of the most attractive destinations for entrepreneurs and investors from around the world. Thanks to its thriving economy, investor-friendly policies, and unmatched access to global markets, the UAE offers the perfect environment for ambitious business owners seeking to grow internationally. Whether you’re a startup founder, SME owner, or established enterprise, expanding to the UAE can open doors to limitless opportunities. For many entrepreneurs exploring business setup in Dubai, the country’s progressive reforms, tax incentives, and world-class infrastructure make it an obvious next step for scaling up operations and entering new markets. In this article, we’ll explore the main reasons why entrepreneurs are expanding their business to the UAE — from economic advantages and access to global trade routes to lifestyle benefits and government support. A strategic global location One of the most compelling reasons to expand to the UAE is its prime geographical position. Located between Europe, Asia, and Africa, the country acts as a natural bridge connecting global markets. Entrepreneurs benefit from: Access to 2 billion consumers within a four-hour flight radiusWorld-class logistics hubs, including Dubai International Airport and Jebel Ali Port—two of the busiest in the worldTime zone advantage, allowing businesses to operate efficiently across both eastern and western markets For e-commerce companies, manufacturers, and service providers, this strategic positioning enables faster trade, lower transportation costs, and smoother global coordination. The UAE’s connectivity through air, sea, and digital infrastructure makes it the ultimate gateway for international expansion. Investor-friendly business environment The UAE government continues to implement reforms that make doing business simpler, faster, and more transparent. Over the years, the country has built a reputation as one of the most business-friendly destinations in the world — reflected in its consistently high ranking on global ease-of-doing-business indexes. Some of the standout features include: 100% foreign ownership in most business sectorsNo personal income tax and highly competitive corporate tax ratesEase of company formation through digital and paperless systemsStable and reliable legal framework based on international standards Free zones across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah further simplify the process by offering entrepreneurs attractive benefits such as zero customs duties, full profit repatriation, and streamlined licensing procedures. These factors combine to create a stable, transparent, and investor-friendly environment that nurtures business growth. Access to a diversified and resilient economy While the UAE’s economy was once largely dependent on oil, today it is one of the most diversified in the region. Non-oil sectors such as tourism, logistics, finance, technology, healthcare, and renewable energy now contribute significantly to the country’s GDP. This diversification offers entrepreneurs a range of opportunities to invest and expand: Technology and innovation: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are developing into regional innovation hubs, home to incubators, accelerators, and fintech companies.Tourism and hospitality: Millions of visitors travel to the UAE every year, creating demand for unique experiences, services, and products.Green energy and sustainability: The UAE’s Vision 2031 and Net Zero 2050 strategies open the door to investors in clean technology and sustainability. By operating in a diversified economy, entrepreneurs reduce risk exposure to single-sector fluctuations and position themselves within an ecosystem built for long-term growth. Advanced infrastructure and digital transformation Another reason why global entrepreneurs are drawn to the UAE is its state-of-the-art infrastructure and commitment to digital innovation. The country consistently ranks among the top globally in infrastructure quality, telecommunications, and smart city initiatives. Key infrastructure advantages: High-speed connectivity and widespread 5G coverageWorld-leading ports and logistics facilities for seamless imports and exportsFree zone and business parks designed specifically for startups and international companiesSmart government services that allow entrepreneurs to handle business registration, licensing, and visa applications online Dubai’s and Abu Dhabi’s ongoing push toward becoming fully digital economies means that entrepreneurs can easily manage operations remotely, leverage e-government platforms, and integrate new technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain into their business models. This focus on innovation creates a competitive edge for businesses that rely on automation, data analytics, and digital tools to scale efficiently. Quality of life and talent attraction Beyond its business advantages, the UAE offers one of the highest standards of living in the world, making it an appealing destination for entrepreneurs and employees alike. Safe cities, modern healthcare, world-class education, and a vibrant multicultural community attract top talent from across the globe. Lifestyle and workforce benefits include:A cosmopolitan environment with residents from over 200 nationalitiesTax-free personal income, allowing professionals to maximize earningsAccess to skilled labor, particularly in finance, technology, and creative industriesResidency and long-term visa options for investors, business owners, and highly skilled workers Entrepreneurs who establish their companies in the UAE can also benefit from programs such as the Golden Visa and the Green Visa, which offer long-term residency and stability for business owners and their families. This combination of professional opportunity and exceptional lifestyle makes the UAE not only a place to do business but also a place to build a future. **media[372572]** The UAE continues to attract entrepreneurs and investors from every corner of the world — and for good reason. Its strategic location, pro-business policies, diverse economy, world-class infrastructure, and exceptional quality of life make it one of the best places globally to expand operations and achieve long-term growth. For entrepreneurs exploring business setup in Dubai, the country provides everything needed for success: stability, innovation, access to global markets, and an environment designed for entrepreneurship. Expanding your business to the UAE isn’t just a smart move — it’s a step toward building a brand that thrives on the global stage.

Gold prices edged lower on Thursday, weighed down by a firmer dollar as investors looked forward to key US inflation data later this week for more cues on the interest rate path. Spot gold slipped 0.3% to $4,082.95 per ounce, while US gold futures for December delivery rose 0.8% to $4,097.40 per ounce. Prices have surged about 56% since January, touching an all-time high of $4,381.21 per ounce on Monday. The rally has been driven by a mix of economic uncertainty, expectations of interest rate cuts, and strong buying by central banks across the world. Spot silver fell 0.4% to $48.31 per ounce, extending its decline after reaching record highs earlier this month. Platinum slipped 1.4% to $1,598.65 per ounce, while palladium also dropped 1.4% to $1,438.47 per ounce.

Minister of Labour of the Arab Republic of Egypt Mohamed Abdel Aziz Gibran discussed with His Excellency Mohamed bin Ahmed Al Obaidli, Board Member of the Qatar Chamber, ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the economic and investment fields and to encourage Qatari investors to enter the Egyptian market. The two sides also reviewed Egypt's labor law during the meeting and explored mechanisms to overcome challenges facing investors in the Egyptian labor market. During the discussions, he reviewed the latest amendments to the Egyptian Labour Law, which include the establishment of an emergency fund to support workers and struggling companies, as well as the creation of an entity dedicated to training and upgrading workers' skills. He noted that the new law aims to foster a stimulating work environment conducive to investment and to support a secure and stable investment climate in Egypt. The meeting also reviewed the outcomes of the Minister's recent visit to Qatar, during which he met with representatives of the Qatari private sector. The visit resulted in positive understandings aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of labor, training, and employment. For his part, Al Obaidli praised the deep fraternal relations between Qatar and Egypt, affirming the Qatar Chamber's keenness to expand cooperation between the two countries across economic, commercial, and investment domains.

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed a ceasefire deal in Gaza that could ease geopolitical tensions in the Middle East against stalled peace talks in Ukraine. Brent Crude futures rose 2 cents to $66.27 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 1 cent to $62.54. Prices had gained around 1% on Wednesday to reach a one-week high after investors viewed stalled progress on an Ukraine peace deal as a sign that sanctions against Russia will continue for some time.

Gold surged past the $4,000 mark per ounce for the first time in history on Wednesday, as investors sought safe-haven assets amid intensifying economic and geopolitical uncertainties and growing expectations of further interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $4,021.22 per ounce, while US gold futures for December delivery advanced 0.5% to $4,025 per ounce. Traditionally viewed as a store of value in times of instability, gold has been one of the strongest-performing assets in 2025, soaring 53% year-to-date after posting a 27% gain in 2024. In other precious metals markets, spot silver increased 0.5% to $48.03 per ounce, platinum rose 2.2% to $1,653.21, and palladium climbed 1.3% to $1,355.32.

Gold surged to a fresh record high on Tuesday as investors sought safe-haven assets amid a prolonged US government shutdown and growing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut later this month. Spot gold rose 0.4% to $3,974.09 per ounce, trading near its all-time high of $3,977.19 earlier in the session. US gold futures for December delivery gained 0.5% to $3,996.40. The precious metal has climbed 51% so far this year, supported by strong central bank purchases, robust inflows into gold-backed exchange-traded funds, a weaker dollar, and increased demand from retail investors seeking protection amid heightened geopolitical and trade tensions. In other precious metals, spot silver was little changed at $48.52 per ounce, platinum rose 0.1% to $1,626.55, and palladium advanced 0.9% to $1,330.91.

European shares were flat on Wednesday, with gains in heavyweight healthcare stocks offsetting the decline in the broader market, as investors fretted over a potential delay in the closely-watched US jobs data. The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX), opened new tab held steady at 557.9 points, after posting its third successive monthly gain in September. Local bourses were mixed. Germany's DAX was down 0.5%, while the UK's FTSE 100 climbed 0.2% to an all-time high. Healthcare stocks jumped 2.7%, and Novartis gained 2.8%.

Qatar and Oman Wednesday called for efforts to activate the business council and develop a joint executive action plan to boost trade as Muscat outlines 78 investment opportunities for Qatari investors in variegated fields.Oman showcased investment opportunities in fisheries, food and pharmaceutical industries, manufacturing, technology, minerals, renewable energy, tourism, and agriculture at a meeting hosted by Qatar Chamber (QC) with Qais bin Mohammed al-Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion of Oman, and his accompanying delegation.Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar Chamber chairman, who received the delegation, said the bilteral economic relations have witnessed remarkable development in recent years, as the volume of trade exchange between Qatar and Oman reached about QR6.2bn in 2024, recording a growth of 17% on an annualised basis.Apart from exploring the possibility of organising an annual Qatari-Omani trade exhibition, the meeting "underlined the need to activate the Qatari-Omani business council and to develop a joint executive action plan aimed at boosting trade exchange and expanding areas of cooperation."Highlighting the promising and diverse opportunities in both countries, Sheikh Khalifa said they provide a solid foundation for enhancing cooperation and implementing joint projects of added value.He called on business owners in both countries to explore the investment opportunities available in both sides.The Omani minister said the Qatari-Omani business forum, held on the sidelines of the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Oman, had a significant impact on strengthening relations between the business communities of the two countries and paved the way for further cooperation between companies on both sides.He said that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are in the process of entering into several free trade agreements with a number of countries, which will create greater opportunities for cooperation between Qatari and Omani investors to access foreign markets.The Omani delegation highlighted that the 22 free economic and industrial zones provide investment opportunities in logistics, food industries, tourism, mining, education, innovation, technology, health, and additional sectors.Rashid bin Hamad al-Athba, second vice-chairman of the Qatar Chamber, said Qatari businessmen enjoy strong ties with their Omani counterparts and highlighted the shared desire to further enhance this cooperation, with the aim of contributing to stimulating mutual and joint investments and strengthening trade exchange between the two countries.