The Saudi Stock Exchange's main index (TASI) closed slightly higher on Monday, rising 0.04% to 10,917 points. Trading was active, with a total value of approximately SAR 3.9 billion, reflecting a cautious but positive sentiment among market participants.
Liquidity details and trading volumes
According to data released by the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the volume of shares traded during the session reached approximately 200.2 million shares, distributed across various listed sectors. Meanwhile, the market capitalization of Saudi stocks remained at its substantial level, reaching approximately 9.2 trillion riyals, further solidifying the Saudi market's position as one of the largest financial markets in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Performance of listed companies: Mixed closing prices
Regarding company performance, the market witnessed a notable divergence, with 147 companies seeing their share prices decline by the end of trading today, while 102 companies managed to record varying gains, out of a total of 266 companies listed on the main market. The shares of Shams, Al Yamamah Steel, Anaam Holding, Al Ramz, and Masar topped the list of the biggest gainers. Conversely, the shares of Sadarat, ACWA Power, Naseej, Petro Rabigh, and Nice One led the list of the biggest losers, reflecting the diverse risk appetite of investors across different sectors.
The parallel market (growth) is declining
In contrast, the Nomu Parallel Market Index closed today's trading down 0.4%, settling at 23,357 points. Trading volume in this market reached approximately SAR 10.2 million, with around 1.4 million shares traded. The market capitalization of the Nomu Parallel Market stood at approximately SAR 42.3 billion. Of the 127 companies listed on Nomu, 46 saw their share prices decline, while only 19 experienced gains.
Economic importance and general context
The movements of the Saudi stock market are of paramount importance beyond local borders, as the Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) serves as a true reflection of the performance of the Saudi economy, the largest in the region. This relative stability of the index comes amidst the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to diversify its sources of income and reduce its reliance on oil, as part of Vision 2030. The market's ability to maintain liquidity levels approaching 4 billion riyals daily reflects its depth and attractiveness to both local and foreign investors.
Furthermore, the inclusion of the Saudi market in emerging market indices (such as MSCI and FTSE) has increased its correlation with international markets, making any movement in the index a focus of global investment funds. Experts point out that slight fluctuations are a healthy characteristic of financial markets, as they provide opportunities for investors to restructure their portfolios, especially given the anticipated growth of non-oil sectors, which have become a cornerstone of listed companies.
