Showing posts with label Business-Economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business-Economy. Show all posts

14 March, 2024

Crown Farms partners with University of Washington Civil & Environmental Engineering for groundbreaking water-efficient irrigation program



  • Ambitious new project between the two parties aims to enhance water-efficient irrigation locally through world-class irrigation management systems 

  • UW-CEE set to provide cutting-edge satellite imagery solution for efficient water utilization

  • Strategic move poised to “revolutionize” Crown Farms’ sustainable farming commitment in the years ahead 


Fujairah, UAE – 14 March 2024: Crown Farms, the Fujairah-based organic farm management company, has finalized a new partnership agreement with the University of Washington Civil & Environmental Engineering (UW-CEE) department to advance water-efficient irrigation methods in Fujairah and the wider UAE. 


A strategic move poised to “revolutionize” Crown Farms’ sustainable farming commitment, the two parties will embark on an ambitious project that aims to enhance water-efficient irrigation via cutting-edge technology solutions and innovative practices. 


Under the terms of this groundbreaking collaboration signed recently, Crown Farms and UW-CEE will combine their expertise and resources to meet mutual project milestones and objectives. Moreover, UW-CEE has committed to providing a world-class satellite imagery solution that will become a vital component of new irrigation management systems moving forward.


Adrian Galben, General Manager of Crown Farms, said: “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our commitment to ushering in a new era of sustainable farming practices that promote sustainable growth within the UAE while supporting economic development. We are incredibly excited to be working alongside such a distinguished partner in UW-CEE, whose track record for invaluable contributions to forward-facing environmental projects is known around the world. Looking ahead, we are eager to begin making the revolutionary advancements we envisage on the road to establishing a new benchmark for water-efficient irrigation methods as part of our open-field cultivation efforts.”


By leveraging state-of-the-art technology and satellite imagery, it is expected that the Crown Farms-UW-CEE collaboration will successfully optimize irrigation systems for efficient water utilization, thereby contributing to sustainable and responsible agriculture locally in the long term. 


Crucially, the optimism of those closest to the project is even more warranted given UW-CEE’s involvement. The department soon emerged as the outstanding candidate for satellite imagery solution provision following Crown Farms’ close consultation with various experts.


A similar program was recently launched in Bangladesh by NASA – the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission – in which CEE Professor Faisal Hossain was instrumental in developing SWOT’s application plan. 


By presenting detailed insights into water volume and their geographical distribution, SWOT has since enabled scientists, policymakers, and local authorities to better understand, monitor, and manage water resources. With UW-CEE’s experience alongside its capabilities to accommodate Crown Farms’ specific needs, this latest program is already tipped for incredible success. 


Additionally, it was confirmed that the Fujairah Research Centre will play a key role in the project as Knowledge Partner, offering valuable research-backed insights. A multi-faceted collaboration involving local and international partners, this illustrates Crown Farms’ commitment to driving innovation and fostering sustainable practices in agriculture. 


Since its formation in 2022, Crown Farms has promoted sustainable growth within the UAE by supporting economic performance in key sectors. With an emphasis on food security, self-sufficiency, and sustainability, the company has made vital contributions to various local initiatives, pursuing solely science-based farming operations while providing the best environmentally friendly agricultural and aquacultural products. 


XS.com Expands to New Regulated Jurisdictions with Labuan License Acquisition


Malaysia, 14th March 2023 - XS.com, the leading FinTech and financial services provider, has expanded its presence into new regulated jurisdictions through the recent acquisition of a Labuan licensed Money Broker. 

This strategic move marks a significant milestone for XS.com, granting the global multi-asset broker a licensed entity in Malaysia's Federal Territory of Labuan, operating under the new name "XS Finance".

With this acquisition, XS.com is poised to offer regulated tier-1 FX liquidity to its clientele worldwide, demonstrating its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the financial market.

The Labuan license positions XS Finance Ltd as a licensed Money Broking entity regulated by the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC) under its statutory body Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA), with license number MB/21/0081.

Mohamad Ibrahim, the Group Chief Executive Officer at XS.com, commented on the expansion:

"We are excited about the expansion of our services into the Labuan jurisdiction. This move aligns with our core principles of prioritizing regulatory compliance and delivering exceptional service, values that have been integral to XS.com since our inception in Australia in 2010. We believe that 'XS Finance' will play a crucial role in serving our clients and contributing to the growth of the Asian market."

Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA) was established on 15 February 1996 under the Labuan Financial Services Authority Act 1996, governed by the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Malaysia. Labuan FSA is the statutory body responsible for the supervision, development and administration of the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC).

Licensed Labuan money brokers are authorized to act as intermediaries to bring together and match clients with their counterparties in money or foreign exchange markets.


XS Company Review

The XS Group (operating under brand name “XS” or “XS.com”) is a Global Multi-Asset Broker providing access to trade a wide range of financial products.

Established in Australia in 2010, XS.com has grown into a global market leader in the FinTech, financial services and online trading industry with licenses in various jurisdictions and offices in different locations around the globe.

XS.com offers traders, institutional investors and brokers worldwide access to deep institutional liquidity and advanced trading technology, combined with an efficient user experience, high-quality relationship management and excellent customer support.

Risk Warning: Our products are traded on margin and carry a high level of risk and it is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved.

إكس أس تواصل توسعها عالمياً من خلال الاستحواذ على رخصة مالية في لابوان بماليزيا


عالمي، 14 مارس 2023 – تواصل مجموعة إكس أس العالمية "إكس أس دوت كوم" (XS.com)، الوسيط العالمي الرائد في مجال الخدمات المالية وتكنولوجيا أسواق المال، توسعها وانتشارها العالمي الى ولايات تنظيمية وهيئات رقابية جديدة من خلال الاستحواذ على وسيط مالي مرخص من قبل الهيئات الرقابية في إقليم لابوان الفيديرالي بماليزيا. 

وتمثل هذه الخطوة الإستراتيجية علامة بارزة بالنسبة لمجموعة إكس أس العالمية (XS.com)، حيث تمنح الوسيط العالمي متعدد الأصول كيانًا جديدا مرخصًا في إقليم لابوان الفيدرالي في ماليزيا، سيعمل تحت اسم "إكس أس فينانس" (XS Finance Ltd).

ومن خلال هذا الاستحواذ، تسعى مجموعة إكس أس العالمية (XS.com) الى تقديم سيولة مرخصة من المستوى الأول للعملات الأجنبية لعملائها في جميع أنحاء العالم، مما يدل على التزامها بتلبية الاحتياجات المتطورة للسوق المالية.

هذا ويتيح ترخيص الهيئات الرقابية في لابوان لشركة "إكس أس فينانس" العمل ككيان مرخص للوساطة المالية تحت رقابة مركز لابوان الدولي للأعمال والمال (Labuan IBFC) من خلال هيئته القانونية هيئة لابوان للخدمات المالية (Labuan FSA)، برقم الترخيص MB/21/0081.

وتعليقا على هذا الإعلان، قال الرئيس التنفيذي الدولي في مجموعة إكس أس العالمية (XS.com) السيد محمد ابراهيم: نحن متحمسون لتوسيع خدماتنا تحت الهيئات الرقابية في إقليم لابوان الفيديرالي بماليزيا. 

وأضاف: ان هذه الخطوة تتوافق مع مبادئنا الأساسية المتمثلة في إعطاء الأولوية للامتثال التنظيمي وتقديم خدمة استثنائية، وهي القيم التي كانت جزءًا لا يتجزأ من مجموعة إكس أس العالمية منذ انطلاقتها في أستراليا عام 2010.

وتابع: نحن نعتقد أن "إكس أس فينانس" (XS Finance Ltd) ستلعب دورًا حاسمًا في خدمة عملائنا والمساهمة في نمو الاسواق الآسيوية.

هذا وقد تأسست هيئة لابوان للخدمات المالية (Labuan FSA) في 15 فبراير 1996 بموجب قانون هيئة الخدمات المالية في لابوان لعام 1996، والذي تحكمه وزارة المالية (MOF)، ماليزيا.

وتعتبر هيئة لابوان للخدمات المالية (Labuan FSA) او (LFSA) الهيئة القانونية المسؤولة عن الإشراف والتطوير والإدارة لمركز لابوان الدولي للأعمال والمال (Labuan IBFC).

ويُسمح للوسطاء الماليين المرخصين في لابوان بالعمل كوسطاء لجمع العملاء ومطابقتهم مع نظرائهم في أسواق المال أو أسواق الصرف الأجنبي.


تقييم شركة إكس أس دوت كوم العالمية

مجموعة إكس أس العالمية "إكس أس دوت كوم" (XS.com) هي وسيط عالمي متعدد الأصول يوفر إمكانية التداول على مجموعة واسعة من المنتجات المالية بما في ذلك الأسهم، المؤشرات، المعادن، الطاقة، السلع، العملات، و العملات المشفرة.

تأسست في أستراليا في عام 2010، وقد نمت لتصبح رائدة في السوق العالمية في مجال التكنولوجيا المالية والخدمات المالية والتداول عبر الإنترنت مع تراخيص متعددة حول العالم.

توفر مجموعة إكس أس العالمية "إكس أس دوت كوم" (XS.com) للمتداولين، المستثمرين، المؤسسات المالية، وشركات الوساطة المالية إمكانية الوصول إلى السيولة المؤسسية العميقة وتكنولوجيا التداول المتقدمة، جنبًا إلى جنب مع تجربة تداول فريدة، وإدارة علاقات متميزة ، ودعم ممتاز للعملاء.

تحذير من المخاطر: يتم تداول منتجاتنا على الهامش وتحمل درجة عالية من المخاطرة ومن الممكن أن تخسر كل رأس مالك. قد لا تكون هذه المنتجات مناسبة للجميع ، ويجب عليك التأكد من ذلك فهم المخاطر التي تنطوي عليها.

ZTE and Moratelindo forge strategic partnership for commercialization of B866V2FA powered by Android TV™



  • This partnership aims to enhance the pay-TV customer experience by the STB B866V2FA powered by Android TV™, offering 4K resolution and engaging interactive features for a more immersive and satisfying experience

  • Through this partnership, Moratelindo becomes the first telecommunications infrastructure and network provider to launch the STB B866V2FA powered by Android TV and gain access to various top global content providers in the Indonesian market

  • The B866V2FA is a new generation 4K OTT STB powered by Android TV, designed to deliver content with 4K picture quality

Jakarta, Indonesia, 14 March 2024 - ZTE Corporation (0763.HK/000063.SZ), a global leading provider of information and communication technology solutions, and Moratelindo, one of the largest public companies in telecommunications infrastructure and network providers in Indonesia, proudly announced a strategic partnership for the commercialization of the Set-Top Box (STB) B866V2FA powered by Android TV.

Since 2016, Moratelindo has been developing its internet service retail business under the brand "Oxygen.id," which offers internet packages and entertainment services. Responding to market demands, in 2023, the company partnered with ZTE to launch the STB solution. This partnership aims to enhance the pay TV user experience by leveraging cutting-edge technology, including 4K resolution and engaging interactive features, thereby providing a more immersive and satisfying experience. Through this partnership, Moratelindo becomes the first telecommunications infrastructure and network provider to launch the STB B866V2FA powered by Android TV with access to various top global content providers in the Indonesian market.  

The B866V2FA is a new generation 4K OTT STB powered by Android TV, designed to deliver content with 4K picture quality. This enables users to enjoy access to a wide variety of high-quality entertainment from around the world, providing an immersive visual experience. Supported by a high-performance Amlogic quad-core 64-bit chip, this robust hardware ensures efficient video stream decoding and fast instruction processing. The STB B866V2FA offers a diverse audio-visual experience with Google Play and Moratelindo’s proprietary applications built-in. Users can utilize Google Assistant for voice control or stream and download from thousands of apps on Google Play.   

Musa Gan, Sales Director of ZTE Indonesia, said: "We are delighted to collaborate with Moratelindo in this strategic step. This partnership marks an important milestone in our journey with Moratelindo to expand the penetration of B866V2FA powered by Android TV solutions in the Indonesian market. By combining our expertise, we hope to deliver a better and more varied TV viewing experience to customers in Indonesia."

Michael C. Mcphail, a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Moratelindo, said: "From this collaboration, Moratelindo is able to provide customers with the whole Android TV experience through B866V2FA set-top box powered by Android TV. With the Stream+ package, customers gain access to 71 live-streaming channels and a wide range of on-demand content from Genflix. This new generation STB supports up to 4K resolution, allowing customers to enjoy OTT services like YouTube in stunning 4K quality. Being powered by Android TV, users can talk to Google Assistant to control your STB and get all the top apps and games on Google Play. Furthermore, the device has Chromecast built-in™ functionality, enabling accessible content sharing from smartphones and other devices." 

As a leading global provider of home media terminals, ZTE has been dedicated to the development and application of high-quality products. To date, ZTE's STB has been successfully deployed for commercial use in more than 45 countries and with over 150 operators worldwide. 

Moving forward, ZTE will strengthen its partnerships with global customers and continue to provide reliable products and services, as well as deliver innovative solutions for home terminals, thus creating a better future for smart home.

Google, Google Play, YouTube, Android TV and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC.


Epson Europe announces new President appointment

 

Epson Europe BV announces that from March 31st, 2024, the current President Mr Yoshiro Nagafusa will retire, and Mr Takanori Inaho will become its new President.

 

Mr Inaho - Image

 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – 14 March 2024 – Mr Inaho has worked at Epson for more than 33 years, holding positions in Europe, America and currently Japan, as General Administrative Manager for the Sales & Marketing Division. Mr Inaho has expertise across printers, home and business projectors and micro devices.

 

Mr Inaho says upon his appointment, "EMEA is an extremely important region for the Seiko Epson Corporation and I am proud to accept this appointment. I wish Mr Nagafusa a wonderful retirement and look forward to working with the skilled team of Epson Europe and developing the strategic business areas for the continued success of the region."

 

Mr Nagafusa said, "I have enjoyed my time in EMEA, working with a talented team whose input has helped me to positively shape my time as President. When I took on this leadership role for Epson Europe, we entered a new phase for the company as we worked to reduce the impact Epson products, services and supply chains have on the environment. We have made significant improvements and received key awards for our work in this area. I am sure Mr Inaho will continue this important work and I wish him all the very best as he embarks on putting his own stamp on this important position."

إبسون أوروبا تعيّن رئيساً جديداً لها

 

تاكانوري إناهو سيتسلّم منصب الرئيس الجديد لشركة إبسون أوروبا بديلاً للرئيس الحالي يوشيرو ناغافوسا الذي سيتقاعد اعتباراً من 31 مارس 2024

 

A person in a suit and tieDescription automatically generated

دبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة، 14 مارس 2024: أعلنت شركة إبسون أوروبا عن تعيين تاكانوري إناهو رئيساً جديداً للشركة ليخلُف يوشيرو ناغافوسا الذي سيتقاعد اعتباراً من 31 مارس 2024. وقد عمل إناهو في إبسون لأكثر من 33 عاماً وتولى مناصب في مناطق أوروبا وأمريكا، وحالياً في اليابان حيث يشغل منصب المدير الإداري العام لقسم المبيعات والتسويق. ويتمتع إناهو بخبرات واسعة في مجالات الطابعات وأجهزة الإسقاط الضوئي المنزلية والخاصة بالشركات، إلى جانب الأجهزة الدقيقة.

 

وفي تعليقه على تولي المنصب الجديد، قال السيد إناهو: "تعتبر أوروبا والشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا منطقة مهمة جداً لأعمال شركة "سيكو إبسون" وإنني فخور لاختياري لشغل هذا المنصب الجديد. وأتمنى للسيد ناغافوسا تقاعداً مريحاً، وأتطلع إلى العمل مع فريق "إبسون أوروبا" المتمرس وتطوير مجالات الأعمال الاستراتيجية ومواصلة تحقيق النجاح في المنطقة".

 

من جانبه قال السيد ناغافوسا: "لقد أمضيت وقتاً متميزاً خلال عملي في منطقة أوروبا والشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا مع الفريق الموهوب والمتميز الذي ساعدت إسهاماته في تحقيقي النجاح خلال شغلي لمنصب رئيس الشركة. لقد كنا عندما توليت هذا المنصب على أعتاب مرحلة جديدة من تاريخ الشركة، إذ عملنا على تقليل تأثير منتجات وخدمات وسلسلة توريد شركة إبسون على البيئة، وتمكّنا من تحقيق تحسينات متميزة وحصلنا على جوائز مرموقة عن عملنا في هذا المجال. وإنني على يقين من أن السيد إناهو سيواصل بذل هذه الجهود، وأتمنى له النجاح في مساعيه لترك بصمته في هذا المنصب المهم".

 

26 February, 2024

Allianz achieves record operating profit and shareholders' core net income

Allianz SE | Munich | Feb 23, 2024

Higher payout ratio, increased dividend per share plus new share buy-back announced.

12M 2023:   

  • Total business volume rises 5.5 percent to 161.7 billion euros.
  • Operating profit increases 6.7 percent to 14.7 billion euros primarily driven by the Life/Health business segment.
  • Shareholders’ core net income excellent at 9.1 billion euros, up by 30.3 percent.

4Q 2023:

  • Total business volume advances 7.8 percent to 39.6 billion euros.
  • Operating profit surges by 17.0 percent to 3.8 billion euros driven by the Life/Health business segment, supported by solid results in all other business segments.
  • Shareholders’ core net income of 2.4 billion euros, up by 46.4 percent.
  • Strong Solvency II capitalization ratio of 206 percent1 after proposed dividend payout.

Outlook:

  • 2024 operating profit target at 14.8 billion euros, plus or minus 1 billion euros2

Other:  

  • Management to propose a dividend per share of 13.80 euros, an increase of 21.1 percent from 2022.
  • Regular dividend payout ratio increased to 60 percent (from 50 percent). This new dividend policy shall already apply to the dividend for fiscal year 2023.
  • In addition to this, a renewed share buy-back program of up to 1 billion euros announced.

“Allianz extended our track record of delivering a record operating profit and core net income, consolidating our leading position as one of the world’s most resilient global insurers and active asset managers. 

Our results demonstrate the trust that our customers place in Allianz, and in the resilience and potential of our business model and our people. Our Property-Casualty business saw strong growth while we supported our customers affected by elevated levels of natural catastrophes. Our Life/Health segment delivered profitable growth as we developed attractive solutions to protect our customers from the effects of inflation on their savings, and in our Asset Management business we achieved robust net inflows in a volatile capital market environment.

The discipline of our strategy, execution, and capital management bolsters our operating profit outlook for 2024, our new dividend policy, and our renewed share buy-back program. In the coming year, we will continue to focus on unlocking the benefits of our scale to further increase our productivity, and on converting our excellent customer experience into profitable customer growth.” - Oliver Bäte, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE

Total business volume

12M 2023: Total business volume rose by 5.5 percent to 161.7 billion euros, driven by the Property-Casualty business segment due to positive price and volume effects, supported by the Life/Health business segment mainly as a result of strong growth in the United States. This was partially offset by lower revenues in the Asset Management business segment.

Internal growth, which adjusts for foreign currency translation and consolidation effects, was at 8.0 percent, primarily driven by the Property-Casualty and Life/Health business segments.

4Q 2023: Total business volume rose by 7.8 percent to 39.6 billion euros, driven by all business segments. The increase in the Life/Health business segment was primarily driven by the United States and Italy. Growth in the Property-Casualty business segment was mainly price driven, while our Asset Management business segment benefited from higher performance fees.

Internal growth was 10.9 percent, driven by all business segments.

Earnings

12M 2023: Operating profit increased 6.7 percent to 14.7 (12M 2022: 13.8) billion euros. This was mainly due to our Life/Health business segment while the result of our Property-Casualty business segment increased slightly amid higher claims from natural catastrophes. Operating profit from our Asset Management business segment softened slightly as a result of foreign currency translation effects.

Shareholders’ core net income grew to 9.1 (7.0) billion euros. This was driven by an improved operating profit in the current period, as well as by an improved non-operating result due to the one-time AllianzGI US Structured Alpha provision captured in the prior-year period. Net income attributable to shareholders advanced to 8.5 (6.4) billion euros, up by 33.0 percent.

Core earnings per share (core EPS)3 increased to 22.61 (16.96) euros. 

Core return on equity (RoE)3 grew to 16.0 percent (12.7 percent).

The Board of Management has decided to increase the payout ratio to 60 percent from 50 percent and proposes a dividend per share of 13.80 euros for 2023, an increase of 21.1 percent from 2022.

On February 22, 2024, Allianz has announced a new share buy-back program of up to 1 billion euros. 

4Q 2023: Operating profit was strong at 3.8 (4Q 2022: 3.2) billion euros, up by 17.0 percent, driven by the Life/Health business segment, primarily due to a higher result in protection and health and transitional impacts linked to the adoption of IFRS 17 in the United States in the prior year. The Asset Management business segment benefited from higher revenues as a result of higher performance fees.

Shareholders’ core net income increased to 2.4 (1.6) billion euros due to a higher operating profit and non-operating result. Net income attributable to shareholders doubled to 2.2 (1.1) billion euros.

Solvency II capitalization ratio

The Solvency II capitalization ratio was 206 percent at the end of 2023 compared with 201 percent at the end of 2022. When including the application of transitional measures for technical provisions, the Solvency II capitalization ratio was 229 percent at the end of 2023 compared with 230 percent at the end of 2022.

Segmental highlights

“We’ve achieved another year of record results and all operating segments finished the year above or close to their operating profit target mid-points. 

  • In our Property-Casualty business we recorded strong revenue growth, driven by healthy pricing and higher volumes. Growth was spread across our entities, reflecting the strength of our diversified global franchise. Our focus on technical excellence helped us to successfully mitigate the impact of inflation on our operating profit, which faced an above-average level of natural catastrophes. Our investment result benefited from higher interest rates.
  • The operating profit in our Life/Health segment exceeded our outlook mid-point and was also well above the prior year. Our value creation is supported by a healthy new business margin that we maintained by providing attractive solutions to our clients, allowing us to record a solid new business development.
  • In Asset Management, our operating profit was above our outlook mid-point, and we achieved positive net inflows in a volatile market environment. A competitive cost-income-ratio and an increase in our third-party assets under management bode well for future profitability.  

We will continue to focus on generating attractive and sustainable returns for all of our stakeholders while not compromising on our resilience. We enter 2024 with confidence and target a full-year operating profit of 14.8 billion euros, plus or minus 1 billion euros.” - Claire-Marie Coste-Lepoutre, Chief Financial Officer of Allianz SE

Property-Casualty insurance: Strong business growth

12M 2023: Total business volume increased by 8.4 percent to 76.5 (70.6) billion euros. Adjusted for foreign currency translation and consolidation effects, internal growth was excellent at 11.2 percent, supported by a price effect of 6.9 percent, a volume effect of 4.0 percent and a service effect of 0.3 percent. Total growth was spread among many entities with Allianz Partners, AGCS and Germany being the main contributors.

Operating profit rose 1.2 percent to 6.9 (6.8) billion euros, driven by a higher operating investment result, which was partly offset by lower other operating and insurance service results.

The combined ratio increased by 0.6 percentage points to 93.8 percent (93.3 percent). The loss ratio went up 0.9 percentage points to 69.3 percent mainly due to higher claims from natural catastrophes and less run-off. This was partially offset by a favorable impact from discounting and an improvement in the expense ratio by 0.3 percentage points to 24.6 percent (24.9 percent) driven by the acquisition cost ratio. 

4Q 2023: Total business volume increased by 7.3 percent to 17.6 (16.4) billion euros. Adjusted for foreign currency translation and consolidation effects, internal growth was very strong at 9.8 percent mainly due to a 7.6 percent price effect. The volume effect was 1.8 percent, and the service effect was 0.5 percent. Total growth was spread among many entities, while the primary contributors were Germany, AGCS, Central and Eastern Europe and Italy.

Operating profit rose slightly by 1.6 percent to 1.6 (1.6) billion euros, due to a higher operating investment result which was partly offset by lower other operating and insurance service results.

The combined ratio went up 0.6 percentage points to 94.9 percent (94.3 percent). The loss ratio went up 2.3 percentage points to 71.4 percent, reflecting higher claims from natural catastrophes, which were partially offset by a better run-off result. The expense ratio improved by 1.7 percentage points to 23.5 percent due to lower acquisition cost and administrative expense ratios.

Life/Health insurance: Strong operating profit

12M 2023: PVNBP, the present value of new business premiums, increased to 67.3 (66.2) billion euros, primarily due to higher volume in the United States and Allianz Re, partially offset by lower single premiums and economic impacts primarily from discounting in Germany.

Operating profit increased to 5.2 (4.2) billion euros, above our outlook mid-point, mainly driven by the United States, primarily due to transitional impacts linked to the adoption of IFRS 17 in the prior year period, as well as improved Protection and Health performance in France and Asia Pacific. The contractual service margin (CSM) release was fully in line with expectations at 5.0 (5.0) billion euros.

Contractual service margin (CSM) increased to 52.6 (52.2) billion euros, mainly driven by a strong normalized growth of 4.9 percent supported by favorable economics with lower interest rates and higher equity markets, which was partly offset by non-economic variances, due to model and assumption changes.

The new business margin remained stable at 5.9 percent (5.9 percent). The value of new business increased to 4.0 (3.9) billion euros, due to higher volumes in the United States and Allianz Re, partially offset by business mix effects in the United States.

4Q 2023: PVNBP increased to 16.7 (15.2) billion euros, driven by higher volumes in the United States and in Italy, partially offset by foreign currency translation effects in the United States, Asia Pacific, and Türkiye, as well as economic impacts primarily from higher discounting in Germany and Italy.

Operating profit increased to 1.4 (1.1) billion euros. The main contributors were the United States, Asia-Pacific and France. The release of the contractual service margin (CSM) was 1.3 (1.4) billion euros.

Contractual service margin (CSM) increased to 52.6 (52.1) billion euros. New business and expected in-force return were higher than in the previous quarter, which led to normalized growth of 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter. Negative non-economic movements, including experience variances and assumption changes, were largely offset by positive economic developments.

The new business margin (NBM) changed to 5.9 percent (6.4 percent). The value of new business (VNB) remained stable at 1.0 (1.0) billion euros. Higher sales in the United States and Italy were partially offset by foreign currency translation effects as well as business mix effects in the United States.

Asset Management: Solid operating profit and resilient net inflows

12M 2023: Operating revenues softened by 1.8 percent to 8.1 billion euros as higher performance fees were offset by lower AuM-driven revenues. Adjusted for foreign currency translation effects operating revenues grew 0.6 percent.

Operating profit was 3.1 (3.2) billion euros, exceeding the mid-point of our outlook. It was down 2.2 percent from the prior-year period but rose by 0.2 percent when adjusted for foreign currency translation effects. The cost-income ratio (CIR) was stable at 61.3 percent (61.2 percent).

Third-party assets under management were 1.712 trillion euros as of December 31, 2023, up by 77 billion euros from the end of 2022. Favorable market effects of 103.9 billion euros and net inflows of 21.5 billion euros more than offset negative currency translation effects of 46.4 billion euros.

Total assets under management were 2.224 trillion euros at the end of 2023, up 82 billion euros from the end of 2022, and in line with the results in third-party asset management, including positive market effects of 130.0 billion euros, net inflows of 3.1 billion euros and negative currency translation effects of 49.6 billion euros.

4Q 2023: Operating revenues reached 2.3 billion euros, up 10.1 percent, as performance fees increased significantly, and also AuM-driven revenues went up. Adjusted for foreign currency translation effects operating revenues grew 14.6 percent.

Operating profit increased in comparison to the prior-year period to 912 (805) million euros. Adjusted for foreign currency translation effects, operating profit rose by 18.1 percent. The cost-income ratio (CIR) improved to 60.5 percent (61.6 percent).

Third-party assets under management were 1.712 trillion euros as of December 31, 2023, up by 42 billion euros from the end of the third quarter 2023. Of this, favorable market effects of 96.7 billion euros could more than offset negative currency translation effects of 46.8 billion euros and net outflows of 6.5 billion euros.

Total assets under management were 2.224 trillion euros at the end of the fourth quarter, up 62 billion euros from the end of the third quarter, and in line with the results for the third-party assets under management, including positive market effects of 124.6 billion euros, negative currency translation effects of 50.6 billion euros and net outflows of 12.3 billion euros.

25 February, 2024

تحليل سوق لليوم عن رانيا جول محلل أسواق في الشرق الأوسط في XS.com




يتم تداول النفط الخام (WTI) عند 77.16 دولار للبرميل، ويتم تداول خام برنت عند 81.81 دولار للبرميل خلال تعاملات اليوم الجمعةبعد أن  انخفضت أسعار النفط بنسبة 1٪ تقريبًا حيث أعلن العراق عن إعادة فتح مصفاة كانت مغلقة لمدة عشر سنوات، ووسط توقعات بأن دول أوبك + لن تقرر تخفيضات كبيرة في الإنتاج. بعد أن أعلنت أنها ستحتاج على الأرجح إلى تمديد تخفيضات الإنتاج الطوعية إلى ما بعد الربع الأول من العام، لكن أي تخفيضات كبيرة أخرى في العرض ليست متوقعة.

تزامن هذا مع تراجع مؤشر الدولار (USDIDX) هذا الأسبوع، حيث تشهد الأسهم انتعاشاً كبيراً، مع تداول العديد من المؤشرات عند أعلى مستوياتها على الإطلاق. ويتطلع المتداولون إلى الأسبوع المقبل الذي سيكون حافلاً بالبيانات المهمة التي ستتسبب في تحرك السوق بصورة كبيرة والتي لديها القدرة على تحديد اتجاهات السوق.

وأعتقد أن أسعار النفط لا تعطي أهمية يحسب لأي مخاطر جيوسياسية جديدة من الشرق الأوسط، ولكنها تتأثر بالأحداث والأخبار الاقتصادية، حيث سيتم انعقاد قمة منتدى لندن للطاقة 2024 يومي الاثنين والثلاثاء الأسبوع المقبل، وهو الحدث الذي عادة ما يتصدر عناوين الأخبار المؤثرة في سوق النفط من خلال قرارات كبار قادة شركات النفط العالمية. وسيتبع ذلك أسبوع الطاقة الدولي من الثلاثاء إلى الجمعة.

حيث شهدت إدارة معلومات الطاقة (EIA) زيادة أخرى في تغيرات مخزون النفط الخام الأمريكي من الزيادة السابقة البالغة 12.018 مليون برميل بالإضافة إلى 3.514 مليون برميل إضافية لهذا الأسبوع، وسوف يترقب المتداولون أي تكرار لتشديد العقوبات الجديدة من الولايات المتحدة والاتحاد الأوروبي على النفط تجاه روسيا وأطراف أخرى في البلدان المتهمة بتداول النفط الروسي

ومن وجهة نظري، خفت حدة التوترات الجيوسياسية قليلاً أمس، حيث توجد دلائل على أن تبادل الرهائن ومفاوضات وقف إطلاق النار المحتملة لا تزال مطروحة على الطاولة في صراع غزة المستمر. لكن تصاعدت التوترات فور إعلان الحوثيين في اليمن أنهم سيواصلون استهداف السفن المدنية في البحر الأحمر، ويعتزمون تصعيد معدل الهجمات، وهم الآن يشملون السفن المملوكة للولايات المتحدة والمملكة المتحدة التي قد تعبر قناة السويس. يمكن أن يتسبب في ارتفاع أسعار النفط على المدى الطويل.

التحليل الفني لـ أسعار النفط الخام (WTI):

تحاول أسعار النفط الارتفاع إلى 80 دولار، فمع استعداد المتداولين لحزمة العقوبات الأمريكية والاتحاد الأوروبي المقرر إصدارها اليوم الجمعة ضد روسيا. فهذه العقوبات ليست ضد روسيا فحسب، بل أيضًا ضد بعض الأطراف الصينية والهندية التي يُزعم أنها تساعد روسيا. وعلى الرسم البياني بالرغم من الاختراق الفني للسعر، لم يتمكن النفط من الارتفاع، لذا فإن العودة إلى 90 دولار أو حتى 85 دولار تبدو بعيدة المنال في الوقت الحالي

الرسم البياني لأسعار النفط الخام (WTI) - منصة XS.com MT4

وفنياً، لا يزال سعر 80 دولار بمثابة المستوى المحوري للسعر، مع وجود 79.66 دولار كمستوى مقاومة أول يجب اختراقه لاستمرار الارتفاع. فإذا لم يتجه مؤشر القوة النسبية (RSI) إلى منطقة ذروة الشراء بسرعة كبيرة، فيمكن للسعر الوصول إلى 84.58 دولار و89.64 دولار كأهداف تالية في الاتجاه الصعودي. وسيكون الهدف النهائي في هذه الموجة الصاعدة هو 92.69 دولار  حسب تسلسل القمم اعتبارًا من نوفمبر 2022. 

وعلى الجانب السلبي، من المفترض أن يكون الدعم  الرئيسي عند المتوسط ​​​​المتحرك البسيط على مدى 55 يومًا عند 74.20 دولار قبل اختبار خط الاتجاه الصعودي بالقرب من 72.93 دولارً. فإذا تم اختراق خط الاتجاه هذا، فسيكون الدعم التالي بالقرب من 67.11 دولار  ويجب اختراقه لمواصلة أي هبوط. ومع رؤية القاع الثلاثي في ​​يونيو ويوليو 2023، فمن المفترض أن يكون هذا المستوى قويًا بما يكفي لدعم ارتداد السعر.

مستويات الدعم: 77.15 – 76.40 – 75.20

مستويات المقاومة: 77.60 – 78.50 – 79.73


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