Saudi Arabian equities ended the trading day with a small gain on Tuesday as sector-level advances in Cement, Industrial Investment and Media & Publishing supported the market. At the close, the Tadawul All Share had increased by 0.07%.
The session's top performers included Saudi Chemical Company (TADAWUL:2230), which led gains by rising 8.04% - up 0.62 points to finish at 8.33. Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication (TADAWUL:7040) also moved higher, adding 6.83% or 6.30 points to close at 98.55. Cherry Trading Company S J S C (TADAWUL:4265) was up 5.84% - an increase of 1.70 points - to end the day at 30.80.
On the downside, Al ELM Information Security Company CJSC (TADAWUL:7203) posted the largest decline among the major fallers, slipping 3.44% or 26.50 points to close at 743.50. Knowledge Economic City (TADAWUL:4310) fell 2.67%, or 0.35 points, to finish at 12.74, and Aljazira Takaful Taawuni Company (TADAWUL:8012) declined 2.45% or 0.30 points to end at 11.92.
Market breadth was mixed: falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange by 173 to 159, while 26 issues ended unchanged. Notably, shares of Cherry Trading Company S J S C (TADAWUL:4265) reached an all-time high during the session, climbing to 30.80.
Commodities trading showed gains for crude and metals. Crude oil for March delivery rose 0.56% or 0.35 to settle at $62.49 a barrel. Brent crude for April delivery increased 0.39% or 0.26 to $66.56 a barrel. The April Gold Futures contract registered a substantial percentage move on the day, rising 6.09% or 283.34 to trade at $4,935.94 a troy ounce.
Foreign exchange rates were largely stable. EUR/SAR was essentially unchanged, moving 0.05% to 4.42, while USD/SAR was unchanged at 3.75 according to the session's close. On the broader currency front, the US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.07% at 97.43.
Context notes - This report summarizes market moves recorded at the close of trading and lists the highest and lowest moving stocks and selected commodity and FX prices as reported at that time.