Saudi Arabia's stock market finished the trading session higher on Wednesday, with the Tadawul All Share climbing 2.27% to register a new one-month high. Sector gains in Media & Publishing, Energy & Utilities and Insurance supported the advance as a broad swath of issues moved higher by the close.
Leading the day among individual listings, Gulf Union Cooperative Insurance (TADAWUL:8120) posted the largest percentage increase, closing up 10.00% or 1.02 points at 11.22. Saudi Fisheries Co. (TADAWUL:6050) matched that 10.00% gain, adding 4.08 points to finish at 44.90. United Cooperative Assurance Co (TADAWUL:8190) also featured among the top performers, rising 9.79% or 0.28 points to close at 3.14.
On the downside, Sustained Infrastructure Holding Company SJSC (TADAWUL:2190) registered the steepest decline, slipping 8.42% or 2.86 points to end the day at 31.12. Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co (TADAWUL:2380) fell 6.21% or 0.67 points to close at 10.12, while Yanbu National Petrochemical Co (TADAWUL:2290) dropped 5.32% or 1.90 points to 33.80.
Market breadth was strongly positive, with 310 advancers compared with 39 decliners and 4 stocks unchanged on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange at the close. The wide disparity between advancing and falling names underpinned the overall gain in the index.
Commodities trading showed notable moves that accompanied the equity session. Crude oil for May delivery fell 17.80% or 20.10 to $92.85 a barrel, while Brent oil for June delivery declined 16.24% or 17.74 to $91.53 a barrel. Precious metals moved in the opposite direction, with the June Gold Futures contract rising 2.94% or 137.81 to trade at $4,822.51 a troy ounce.
In currency and macro instruments, EUR/SAR rose 0.93% to 4.39. USD/SAR registered a very small change, noted as unchanged 0.07% to 3.75. The US Dollar Index Futures fell 1.32% to 98.36.
The session reflected a mix of strong equity participation and sharp moves in commodity markets, with notable winners in insurance and fisheries and notable declines among select infrastructure and petrochemical names. Observed price moves and market breadth together produced the Tadawul All Share's one-month high at the close.