Saudi Arabia's stock market ended the trading day slightly in the red on Sunday, with the Tadawul All Share closing down 0.06% as losses across several sectors outweighed gains elsewhere.
Sectors that exerted downward pressure on the index included Hotels & Tourism, Agriculture & Food and Energy & Utilities. Despite pockets of strength in select names, the cumulative effect left the benchmark modestly lower at the close.
Among individual performers, Saudi Pharmaceutical Appliances (TADAWUL:2070) led the gainers, finishing the session up 8.11% - a rise of 2.20 points to close at 29.32. Methanol Chemicals Company (TADAWUL:2001) also posted a strong advance, adding 7.38% or 0.59 points to end at 8.59. Al Hassan Ghazi Ibrahim Shaker (TADAWUL:1214) rose 7.15% or 1.09 points to finish at 16.34.
On the downside, Modern Mills Company SJSC (TADAWUL:2284) recorded the largest decline among major movers, sliding 5.38% or 1.56 points to close at 27.44. Saudi Fisheries Co. (TADAWUL:6050) fell 5.17% or 2.20 points to end at 40.38, reaching a five-year low in the process. National Industrialization Co (TADAWUL:2060) dropped 4.98% or 0.44 points to finish at 8.40.
Market breadth favored decliners, with 181 stocks closing lower compared with 143 advancers; 21 issues finished unchanged.
Commodity markets showed upward movement for crude oil over the session. Crude oil for April delivery rose 3.11% or 2.98 to trade at $98.71 a barrel. Brent oil for May delivery gained 2.67% or 2.68 to reach $103.14 a barrel. In contrast, the April Gold Futures contract declined 1.25% or 64.10 to trade at $5,061.70 a troy ounce.
In currency trading, EUR/SAR moved lower by 0.83% to 4.28, while USD/SAR was effectively unchanged, moving 0.01% to 3.75. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.61% to 100.36.
Session snapshot:
- Tadawul All Share -0.06% at close
- Top gainers: TADAWUL:2070, TADAWUL:2001, TADAWUL:1214
- Top losers: TADAWUL:2284, TADAWUL:6050, TADAWUL:2060
- Breadth: 181 decliners, 143 advancers, 21 unchanged
The market move was modest in magnitude but highlighted diverging fortunes across sectors and individual stocks. While several industrial and chemical names advanced strongly, the weight of losses in consumer-facing and energy-related sectors contributed to the market's slight retreat.