Market close
Saudi equities finished the trading session lower on Thursday, with the Tadawul All Share index registering a 0.07% decline at the close. Sector-level weakness in Media & Publishing, Retail and Energy & Utilities contributed to the modest market pullback.
Top performers
A handful of names delivered strong gains despite the overall slide. Saudi Steel Pipe Company (TADAWUL:1320) led advancers, rising 10.00% - an increase of 4.42 points - to finish at 48.64. Emaar The Economic City (TADAWUL:4220) climbed 9.99% or 1.07 points to close at 11.78, and Middle East Specialized Cables Co (TADAWUL:2370) advanced 9.98%, adding 2.54 points to end the day at 28.00.
Biggest decliners
The session's largest losers included Raydan Co (TADAWUL:6012), which dropped 6.89% or 1.31 points to close at 17.69. Southern Province Cement Co. (TADAWUL:3050) fell 3.90% - down 0.90 points - to finish at 22.17, and Saleh Abdulaziz Al Rashed And Sons (TADAWUL:1324) declined 3.86% or 2.65 points to end at 66.05.
Market breadth and positioning
Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the Saudi Exchange by 199 to 138, while 32 stocks finished unchanged. That distribution reflected the modest net move in the index despite several large individual stock swings.
Commodities and currency moves
Commodity markets saw notable moves during the session. Crude oil for May delivery was up 11.39% or 11.40, trading at $111.52 a barrel. Brent oil for June delivery rose 7.75% or 7.84 to $109.00 a barrel. In precious metals, the June Gold Futures contract declined 3.50% or 168.55 to trade at $4,644.55 a troy ounce.
In foreign exchange, EUR/SAR fell 0.49% to 4.33, while USD/SAR was effectively unchanged, moving 0.01% to 3.75. The US Dollar Index Futures was higher, up 0.51% at 99.97.
Outlook considerations
The session featured concentrated sector weakness alongside isolated large gains among specific stocks. Commodity price volatility was evident in oil and gold, and market breadth favored decliners, factors market participants may monitor in the coming sessions.