Saudi stock market closes positively at the end of the week
The Saudi Stock Exchange's main index (TASI) closed Thursday's trading session, the last of the week, with a notable increase of 0.8%, adding approximately 89 points to close at 11,251 points. This positive performance was supported by healthy liquidity, with a total value of approximately SAR 5.4 billion resulting from the trading of around 341.6 million shares. With this closing, the total market capitalization of listed shares reached approximately SAR 9.5 trillion.
Company and sector performance
Today's session saw a clear dominance of rising stocks, with 188 companies recording gains, while only 67 companies saw their shares decline out of a total of 268 companies listed on the main market. The top gainers included Saudi Kayan, Ata'a, Petro Rabigh, Riyadh Cables, and MedGulf Insurance. Conversely, the biggest losers were Sadafco, Abu Moati, Al Waha, Shams, and Sal.
The parallel market (growth) continues its positive performance
The parallel market (Nomu) continued its positive performance, with its index closing 0.7% higher at 23,643 points. Trading value in the parallel market reached approximately SAR 14 million, with a trading volume of 1.5 million shares and a total market capitalization of SAR 40.5 billion. Shares of 44 companies rose, while those of 32 companies declined, out of a total of 125 listed companies.
General context and importance of the Saudi financial market
The Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) is the largest in the Middle East and North Africa region and plays a pivotal role in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy away from oil, and the stock market is a key tool for attracting domestic and foreign investment and financing major projects in non-oil sectors. Over the past few years, the market has witnessed significant structural and regulatory developments, most notably its inclusion in global emerging market indices such as MSCI and FTSE Russell, which has strengthened its international standing and contributed to the influx of billions of dollars in foreign investment.
Local and international influences on market performance
The performance of the Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) largely reflects investor confidence in the strength and growth potential of the Saudi economy. Market gains benefit not only individual and institutional investors but also indicate improved profitability for listed companies, which are the backbone of the national economy. Internationally, global investors monitor the Saudi market's performance as an indicator of regional stability, particularly following the historic listing of Saudi Aramco, which brought the market into the global spotlight. Market performance is influenced by multiple factors, including global oil prices, monetary policy decisions by major central banks, and geopolitical developments in the region and the world.
