Saudi Arabian equities closed the session in negative territory on Sunday, with the Tadawul All Share slipping 2.18% to register a fresh one-month low. Market pressure was led by declines in the Media & Publishing, Industrial Investment and Energy & Utilities sectors, which collectively weighed on sentiment across the exchange.
Among individual stocks, a handful of shares finished higher despite the broader sell-off. Almarai Company (TADAWUL:2280) paced the winners, rising 4.11% - an increase of 1.64 points to close at 41.50. Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) added 3.37%, up 0.84 points to finish at 25.80, and Al-Rajhi Cooperative Insurance (TADAWUL:8230) gained 3.36%, climbing 2.50 points to end the day at 77.00.
On the downside, several names posted steep losses. Saudi Research and Marketing Group (TADAWUL:4210) led decliners, tumbling 9.59% or 7.85 points to close at 74.00. Al ELM Information Security Company CJSC (TADAWUL:7203) dropped 9.05%, a decline of 58.00 points to finish at 583.00, while Electrical Industries Co (TADAWUL:1303) fell 8.01%, down 1.18 points to end at 13.55.
Market breadth was markedly negative: 307 stocks declined versus 44 that advanced, and 7 issues were unchanged at the close.
There were notable price milestones during the session. Shares of Saudi Research and Marketing Group reached a five-year low, falling 9.59% to 74.00. Al ELM Information Security Company CJSC moved to a 52-week low as it slipped 9.05% to 583.00.
Commodities markets finished higher alongside the local equity decline. Crude oil for April delivery rose 2.78% - an increase of 1.81 to $67.02 a barrel. Brent oil for May delivery gained 2.45% or 1.73 to trade at $72.48 a barrel. In precious metals, the April Gold Futures contract increased 1.03%, up 53.70 to $5,247.90 a troy ounce.
In currency and index moves relevant to the market, EUR/SAR was up 0.15% at 4.43, while USD/SAR was essentially unchanged, moving 0.01% to 3.75. The US Dollar Index Futures fell 0.17% to 97.57.
This session highlighted a concentrated set of sector pressures that translated into a broad market slide, with only a few large-cap names able to post gains amid the wider declines.