41.   The expected rise in commodity prices after the adoption of the farm legislation never happened.

42.   The improvement is mainly due to an expected rise in the Asian, European and North American production.

43.   The produce will be exported to other Gulf countries where demand is predicted to grow with an expected rise in infrastructure projects, Strahlmann said.

44.   Therefore, Middle East producers need to continue developing their capacity, to cope with the expected rise in demand, he said.

45.   He said consumer spending was expected to retain its recovery trend on the back of expected rises in wages along with receding pressure in the labour market.

46.   A ministry official said that expected rises in the services deficit would support the declining trend of the current account surplus in the near term.

47.   Among the other currencies, the dollar slipped on profit-taking after rises last Tuesday on a sharper than expected rise in US interest rates.

48.   But an expected rise in the stock market this year would help lift the major lender back into the black, it said.

49.   The official said that expected rises in the services deficit should also support the declining trend of the current account surplus in the near term.

50.   The trend was clearer on the precious metals, which all fell ahead of an expected rise in US interest rates next week.