The Saudi Stock Exchange's main index, TASI, opened slightly lower on Tuesday, declining 0.2% to 11,163 points. Trading volume in the first few minutes reached SAR 255 million, with approximately 61 million shares traded. According to Tadawul data, the index's total market capitalization stands at SAR 9.465 trillion, reflecting the market's size and weight in the region.
Company and sector performance
The trading board showed mixed performance among listed companies, with 121 companies experiencing a decline in share value, while 99 companies saw their shares rise out of a total of 268 companies listed on the main market. Shares of Americana, MBC Group, Al-Aseel, Naseej, and Jazeera Takaful were among the top gainers. Conversely, shares of CGS, Sinomie Retail, Abu Moati, SMC Healthcare, and Dar Al Arkan were among the biggest losers at the start of the session.
General context of the Saudi stock market
The Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) is the largest and most liquid stock market in the Middle East and North Africa region, and plays a pivotal role in achieving the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil. Over the past few years, the market has undergone significant structural and regulatory developments, leading to its inclusion in prestigious global emerging market indices such as MSCI and FTSE Russell, thus enhancing its attractiveness to foreign investors and increasing market depth and transparency.
Economic importance and impact
Minor daily fluctuations, such as this decline, are normal in financial markets and are influenced by a range of local and global factors. Locally, investors await company earnings announcements and periodic economic data. Globally, the performance of the Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) is linked to oil prices, interest rate decisions by major central banks such as the US Federal Reserve, and geopolitical tensions that can affect investor sentiment. Overall, market performance reflects investor confidence in the business environment and the strength of the national economy, and directly impacts investment decisions and liquidity within the local economy.
Parallel market performance 'growth'
In a related development, the Nomu Parallel Market Index opened today's session with a slight decline of approximately 0.1%, settling at 23,655 points. Trading value on Nomu reached around SAR 578,000, with a trading volume of 62,000 shares, while the market capitalization remained stable at SAR 40.7 million. The Nomu Parallel Market, dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), saw 7 companies' shares rise while 7 others declined, out of a total of 125 listed companies.
