Higher oil prices support Saudi Arabia’s focus on growth: report

Higher oil prices are allowing the focus of Saudi authorities to shift to growth without a material impact on fiscal balances, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML) said in a new report on Wednesday.

It, however, revised upwards the oil price threshold, at which the planned macroeconomic adjustment brings fiscal imbalances, to $60 a barrel from its previous assessment of $50 per barrel.

In its "Global Research 2019 Year Ahead Outlook", the bank said that Saudi Arabia's Q3 2018 fiscal deficit has narrowed materially due to higher-than-budgeted oil revenues, non-oil revenues broadly on target and spending control, with higher current spending offset by lower capital spending.

The report said that the Kingdom is unlikely to tap the international bond market in the near term, given it still has $13 billion in unused debt balance.

Meanwhile, the report said fiscal spending is likely to be boosted in Q4 2018 to shelter domestic activity, thanks to high oil prices, historical precedents and the pre-budget statement.

While stable SAMA FX reserves suggest capital outflows may be slowing,  the substantial current account surplus is providing much bigger support to external balances, it added.

Putting a prolonged period of low oil prices, fiscal reform slippage, devaluation and regional geopolitical threats as the primary risks, BofAML said the Kingdom’s energy policy is likely to stay geared towards supporting oil prices.