Saudi Arabia: Selected Issues

Publication Date:

October 15, 2015

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

This Selected Issues paper assesses the importance of oil and interest rate spillovers for Saudi Arabia. Oil prices have fallen by more than 40 percent since mid-2014 while the Federal Reserve is expected in the coming months to begin raising its policy rate at the beginning of a gradual tightening cycle. Given the importance of oil to the economy and the peg of the riyal to the U.S. dollar, these are two key developments for Saudi Arabia. Although a temporary drop in oil prices would likely have little effect on the economy and banks given the financial cushions that have been built-up, a longer-lasting period of low oil prices would have a more significant impact.

Series:

Country Report No. 2015/286

Subject:

Notes:

Also available in Arabic

English

Publication Date:

October 15, 2015

ISBN/ISSN:

9781513505077/1934-7685

Stock No:

1SAUEA2015002

Pages:

85

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