The Saudi Stock Exchange's main index (TASI) opened trading on Thursday, the first day of the new year 2026, on a positive note, rising 0.3% to reach 10,523 points. This opening performance reflects investor optimism at the start of the new fiscal year, with trading volume reaching approximately SAR 114.3 million, indicating an early influx of liquidity into available investment opportunities in the market.
This rise comes amid the growing importance of the Saudi financial market as the largest in the Middle East and North Africa region, and a key driver of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to diversify income sources and attract foreign investment. The market plays a pivotal role in financing major companies and projects, making any positive movement in the index an indicator of the strength of the national economy and investor confidence in the investment environment.
Market performance and listed companies
According to data from the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the volume of shares traded at the start of the session reached one million shares, while the total market capitalization of listed shares remained stable at a substantial level of SAR 8.817 trillion. Morning trading witnessed strong buying activity, with the shares of 221 companies rising – representing the vast majority of companies – compared to only 19 companies whose shares declined out of a total of 266 companies listed on the main market.
The top performing stocks included Tobi, Gulf Training, MedGulf Insurance, United Insurance, and Alamar, reflecting strong activity in the technology, insurance, and consumer services sectors. Conversely, the most notable declines were seen in Jadwa REIT Saudi, Tasnee, Merana, Bahri, and Jaco, which experienced slight drops at the start of trading.
Stability of the parallel market (growth)
Meanwhile, the Nomu Parallel Market Index, dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), opened at 23,301 points. Trading volume reached SAR 354,000, with 35,000 shares traded, and a market capitalization of SAR 42.1 million. The Nomu Parallel Market saw gains in the shares of nine companies and declines in five, out of a total of 126 listed companies, reflecting a divergence in performance compared to the main market.
It is worth noting that the Saudi financial market is witnessing continuous regulatory developments aimed at raising the efficiency of trading and enhancing transparency, which contributes to upgrading the market’s ranking in global indices and attracting more institutional cash flows, both local and international.
