Saudi Arabia's equity market ended the session in negative territory on Wednesday as sector losses in Industrial Investment, Insurance and Media & Publishing contributed to a modest decline. At the close, the Tadawul All Share slipped 0.19%.
The session's top performers included Arab Sea Information Systems Co SJSC (TADAWUL:7201), which climbed 6.77% - gaining 0.26 points to finish at 4.10. Saudi Fisheries Co. (TADAWUL:6050) advanced 5.48%, up 3.75 points to close at 72.15, and Yanbu National Petrochemical Co (TADAWUL:2290) rose 4.36%, adding 1.44 points to end the day at 34.50.
On the downside, several insurance companies were among the largest decliners. Al Etihad Cooperative Insurance Co SJSC (TADAWUL:8170) lost 7.28%, a fall of 0.62 points, to trade at 7.90 at the close. Walaa Cooperative Insurance Company SJSC (TADAWUL:8060) dropped 4.83%, down 0.57 points to finish at 11.23, and Amana Cooperative Insurance Co (TADAWUL:8310) declined 2.92%, shedding 0.23 points to close at 7.65.
Market breadth favored sellers: falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange by 200 to 118, while 32 issues finished unchanged.
Commodities moved higher during the session. Crude oil for October delivery increased 3.00%, or $2.79, to $95.82 a barrel. Brent oil for November delivery rose 2.93%, or $2.87, to $100.79 a barrel. Precious metals saw a smaller move, with the December Gold Futures contract up 0.02%, or $0.80, to trade at $4,439.80 a troy ounce.
In foreign exchange, EUR/SAR rose 0.25% to 4.37, while USD/SAR was largely unchanged, moving 0.03% to 3.75. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures ticked down 0.14% to 98.64.
Market snapshot
- Tadawul All Share -0.19% at close
- Top gainers: TADAWUL:7201 (+6.77%), TADAWUL:6050 (+5.48%), TADAWUL:2290 (+4.36%)
- Top losers: TADAWUL:8170 (-7.28%), TADAWUL:8060 (-4.83%), TADAWUL:8310 (-2.92%)
- Decliners 200, Advancers 118, Unchanged 32
- U.S. crude (Oct) $95.82, Brent (Nov) $100.79, Gold (Dec) $4,439.80
- EUR/SAR 4.37, USD/SAR 3.75, USD Index Futures 98.64
These moves reflect a session in which sector-specific weakness - notably within insurance and select industrial and media names - outweighed gains in individual industrial and petrochemical stocks. Energy benchmarks posted notable gains on the day, while the dollar eased slightly in futures trading.