The Saudi Stock Exchange's main index (TASI) closed Thursday's trading session, the last of the week, on a positive note, rising 0.2% to close at 10,473 points. Trading activity was brisk, with total turnover reaching approximately SAR 4 billion, reflecting continued investor interest and opportunities in the region's largest financial market.
Market performance and liquidity details
According to data released by the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the volume of shares traded during the session reached approximately 200.6 million shares, distributed across various listed sectors. The total market capitalization of Saudi stocks remained stable at SAR 8.7 trillion, a figure that reinforces the Saudi market's position as one of the most important emerging markets globally and reflects its depth and capacity to absorb local and foreign investment flows.
Despite the general index closing in positive territory, the market's breadth revealed a clear divergence in company performance, with most stocks closing in the red. Shares of 183 companies declined by the end of trading, while only 72 out of the 266 companies listed on the main market saw gains. This disparity typically indicates that the rise was driven by leading stocks or specific sectors that offset selling pressure on other shares.
The most active and influential companies
Shares of Bahri, Yamama Cement, Al-Dawaeia, Naqi, and Al-Drees topped the list of gainers, reflecting activity in the transportation, basic materials, and energy sectors. Conversely, shares of Red Sea, Redan, Exports, Gypsum Co., and Tamkeen faced selling pressure, placing them among the biggest losers during the session.
Performance of the parallel market (growth) and its economic importance
In a related development, the parallel market index (Nomu) followed the upward trend of the main market, closing 0.2% higher at 23,538 points. Trading volume in this market, which is dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises, reached approximately SAR 21 million, with nearly 4 million shares traded.
The parallel market is gaining increasing importance in the Saudi economy, serving as a vital platform to enable startups and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access financing and grow, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification. The market capitalization of Nomu reached approximately SAR 42.3 billion, with 37 companies seeing their share prices decline while 36 companies saw their share prices rise, out of a total of 127 listed companies.
This performance comes at a time when the Saudi financial market continues to develop its mechanisms and legislation to attract more foreign and domestic investments, thereby enhancing market efficiency and transparency.
