Last weekend saw biggest power consolidation in Saudi Arabia and revealed who exactly are the new power figures in the kingdom. Saudi king Salman appointed new chiefs in several key departments, including country’s most vital oil industry.
Oil minister Ali-al-Naimi, who has been Saudi Arabia’s most prominent figure for last two decades got removed from his position and will now be the adviser to Saudi court. 80 year old Mr. Naimi, joined the industry when he was 12 years old and became the country’s oil minister in 1995. For years Mr. Naimi’s words were closely followed by global oil industry and he alone was sufficient to shake up the market with just few words. He enjoyed almost autonomy in decision making under both King Fahd and King Abdullah. But under the new king, Salman, deputy crown prince Mohammad bin-Salman has grown into prominence.
He is now the main man behind economic and oil policy. He has already announced 5% stake sale of Saudi state owned oil giant Saudi Aramco and plans to reform the kingdom such way that it doesn’t depend on just oil revenue. It has been named Vision 2030.
Much younger, Mr. Khaled al-Falih, 55, chair of Saudi Aramco will be the new oil minister, who is more aligned with Deputy prince MbS further establishes the role of new strongman of Saudi Arabia.
From now the wording of him, will be the key for oil market and for now, he says diversify and no action without Iran.
So far, oil has taken up the changes in positive stride. Brent is up 1.6% today, trading at $46/barrel.


Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons
Best Gold Stocks to Buy Now: AABB, GOLD, GDX
Putin Envoy Kirill Dmitriev to Visit Miami for Talks With Trump Administration Officials
Syria Detains Group Over Rocket Attacks on Damascus Military Airport Amid Hezbollah Allegations
Syria-Kurdish Ceasefire Marks Historic Step Toward National Unity
Trump Proposes Two-Year Shutdown of Kennedy Center Amid Ongoing Turmoil
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns
Minnesota Judge Rejects Bid to Halt Trump Immigration Enforcement in Minneapolis
Venezuela Proposes Amnesty Law and Plans to Transform Helicoide Prison




