Saudi Arabian equities finished the trading day in negative territory on Thursday, with the Tadawul All Share closing down 0.70%.
Sector-level weakness was led by Energy & Utilities, Agriculture & Food and Transport, which collectively pressured the broader index. On an individual company basis, Dar Albalad for Business Solutions (TADAWUL:7205) was the strongest performer of the session, rising 4.92% or 0.52 points to close at 11.08. Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Company CJSC (TADAWUL:1322) advanced 4.40% or 3.30 points to 78.30, and Wataniya Insurance Company (TADAWUL:8300) gained 4.38% or 0.58 points to finish at 13.81.
At the other end of the spectrum, Umm Al-Qura (TADAWUL:3005) led declines, slipping 6.25% or 0.86 points to end the session at 12.89. Retal Urban Development Company SJSC (TADAWUL:4322) fell 6.22% or 0.63 points to 9.50, while Saudi Ground Services Co (TADAWUL:4031) lost 5.68% or 1.56 points to close at 25.92.
Market breadth favored decliners by a substantial margin: 235 stocks fell versus 87 advancers, with 25 issues unchanged. Two companies recorded new low marks during the session - Retal Urban Development Company SJSC dropped to 52-week lows at 9.50, and Saudi Ground Services Co hit three-year lows at 25.92.
Commodities and currency measures moved alongside the equity declines. Crude oil for September delivery rose 1.41% or 1.06 to $76.28 a barrel. Brent oil for October delivery increased 1.64% or 1.30 to $80.75 a barrel. In metals, the December Gold Futures contract was up 0.49% or 21.12, trading at $4,326.32 a troy ounce.
Foreign exchange rates noted limited movement in the Saudi riyal pairs: EUR/SAR was unchanged 0.10% at 4.33, while USD/SAR was unchanged 0.03% at 3.75. The US Dollar Index Futures ticked up 0.08% to 99.63.
This session's results left the Tadawul All Share lower at the close, with particular pressure on companies connected to energy, food and transport activities. Market participants recorded a clear skew toward falling issues, and a small group of names produced outsized percentage swings on both the upside and downside.