Key Economic News – Thursday, October 1, 2026

Here is a roundup of the most significant economic events and developments for today, Thursday, October 1, 2026:

1. Energy and Commodity Markets

- Oil and Supply Stability: Oil prices stabilized near the $98-per-barrel mark as shipment flows and oil exports from the Middle East recovered, and the risk of severe supply disruptions receded.

- Gold and Monetary Policy: Gold traded around the $4,155-per-ounce level, supported by a decline in market bets that the US Federal Reserve would continue its aggressive interest-rate-hiking path.

- Russian Diesel Exports: Russia extended its ban on diesel and marine fuel exports for producers through the end of October to secure domestic supplies.

2. Arab and Gulf Economies

- Saudi Budget Outlook: The Saudi Ministry of Finance announced resilient budget performance, with a projected narrowing of the deficit by 2026, driven by non-oil sector growth and expectations of a recovery and a record surge in economic growth by 2027.

- Egypt and Capital Flows: Foreign investment in Egyptian Treasury bills and "hot money" inflows have reached record levels, supported by flexible monetary policies and a relative easing of inflationary pressures.

3. Artificial Intelligence and Technology

- The AI ​​and Stock Market Boom: The technology and AI sectors drove gains in global stock markets—particularly in Japan, where indices reached multi-week highs—amid massive investment inflows to fund data centers and technology infrastructure.