The Saudi Stock Exchange's main index (TASI) closed Thursday's trading session, the last of the week, with a notable increase of 0.35%, settling at 10,450 points. Trading activity reflected a cautious optimism among investors. Total trading value reached approximately SAR 5.87 billion, indicating continued buying momentum in specific sectors.
According to data issued by the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the volume of shares traded during the session reached approximately 211.2 million shares, distributed across various sectors, while the total market value of listed shares remained stable at 8.738 trillion riyals, which confirms the Saudi market's position as the largest financial market in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Company and sector performance
Regarding company performance, the session saw mixed stock movements, with 154 companies closing lower, indicating profit-taking in some positions, while 100 companies saw gains out of a total of 266 companies listed on the main market. The top gainers were Arabian Cement, Bahri, Kingdom Holding, Al-Mousa, and Ma'aden, supported by strong operational performance and positive outlooks for their respective sectors.
Conversely, shares of “Al Ramz”, “Nama Chemicals”, “Sanad Holding”, “Drayah”, and “MBC Group” were among the biggest losers during today’s trading.
Economic context and market importance
This performance comes within a broader economic context in Saudi Arabia, where the stock market plays a pivotal role in achieving the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify income sources and attract foreign investment. The index's stability above psychological support levels is a positive indicator that bolsters the confidence of both local and international investors, especially following the Saudi market's inclusion in emerging market indices such as MSCI and FTSE Russell, which has increased foreign capital inflows.
The rise of leading companies such as Ma’aden and Bahri also reflects the continued growth in non-oil sectors, where mining and logistics are considered key pillars of industrial development in the Kingdom today.
Parallel market performance (growth)
On the other hand, the parallel market index (Nomu) recorded a slight decline of 0.3%, closing at 23,354 points. Trading value in this market, dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), reached approximately SAR 18 million, with 2.75 million shares traded, representing a market capitalization of SAR 42.2 million. During the session on Nomu, 32 companies saw their share prices rise, while 39 companies experienced declines, out of a total of 126 listed companies. This highlights the higher volatility that parallel markets can experience compared to the main market.
