The Saudi Stock Exchange's main index (TASI) recorded a slight increase at the start of trading on Thursday, the last session of the week, adding marginal gains of 0.15% to settle at 11,475 points. This positive performance comes amid modest liquidity in the first few minutes of the session, amounting to SAR 392.5 million, reflecting a cautious stance among investors.
Key market performance details
According to data released by the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the volume of shares traded in the first hour reached approximately 18.7 million shares, while the total market capitalization remained stable at SAR 9.556 trillion. The trading board showed a slight lead for rising stocks, with 120 companies seeing their shares climb, while 111 companies experienced declines out of a total of 268 companies listed on the main market. The top gainers were shares of Ban, Saudi Arabian Pipes, Aljazira, Amac, and Bahr Al Arab. Conversely, the biggest losers were shares of Ata’a, Bupa Arabia, Al-Fakhariya, Marana, and ACWA Power.
The Saudi market in the context of Vision 2030
The performance of the Saudi stock market is a vital indicator of the health of the national economy, which is undergoing profound structural transformations within the framework of Vision 2030. The Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) is the largest stock market in the Middle East and North Africa region and plays a pivotal role in attracting foreign investment and diversifying income sources away from oil. Its inclusion in prestigious global indices such as MSCI and FTSE Russell Emerging Markets has enhanced its international standing and increased foreign capital inflows, adding depth and liquidity to the market.
The importance of the parallel market (growth)
In a related development, the parallel market index (Nomu) also saw positive performance, rising by 0.15% to reach 23,894 points. Trading value on Nomu reached approximately SAR 480,000. The parallel market is gaining increasing importance as a vital platform for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and providing them with innovative financing channels, which contributes to stimulating entrepreneurship and creating new job opportunities—a key objective of the Kingdom's economic strategy.
Local and global impacts on the market
The performance of the Saudi Stock Exchange (TASI) is influenced by a range of local and international factors. Locally, quarterly corporate earnings and government spending projects remain key market drivers. Globally, investor sentiment is affected by fluctuations in oil prices, a major source of government revenue, as well as global interest rate trends set by the US Federal Reserve, which are often followed by central banks in the Gulf. Today's slight rise reflects relative stability amid these variables and anticipation of further economic stimulus measures.
