Summary
The Saudi stock market finished the trading day lower on Wednesday, with the Tadawul All Share retreating 0.54% to record a new one-month low. Sector-level weakness in Media & Publishing, Hotels & Tourism and Building & Construction underpinned the decline, while selected names in utilities and manufacturing posted gains.
Market close and breadth
At the close, the Tadawul All Share fell 0.54%. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange by 229 to 101, and 13 stocks finished unchanged.
Top performers
- Power and Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu (TADAWUL:2083) led gainers, rising 8.47% or 2.44 points to close at 31.24.
- Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co. (TADAWUL:2300) climbed 6.13% or 3.10 points to finish at 53.70.
- Jamjoom Pharmaceuticals Factory Company SJSC (TADAWUL:4015) added 4.58% or 6.00 points to end the session at 137.00.
Largest decliners
- CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance (TADAWUL:8240) was the session's worst performer, dropping 5.14% or 0.95 points to 17.53 at the close.
- Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company (TADAWUL:2350) fell 4.87% or 0.25 points to 4.88.
- Arabian Internet and Communications Services Co CSJC (TADAWUL:7202) declined 4.43% or 8.40 points to close at 181.40.
Notable lows
- Shares of CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance (TADAWUL:8240) fell to 52-week lows, closing at 17.53.
- Arabian Internet and Communications Services Co CSJC (TADAWUL:7202) dropped to three-year lows, ending the session at 181.40.
Commodities, currencies and index futures
Commodity markets were firmer alongside the Saudi session. Crude oil for April delivery rose 0.72% or 0.47 to $66.10 a barrel, while Brent for May delivery gained 0.82% or 0.58 to $71.16 a barrel. The April Gold Futures contract increased 0.52% or 26.95 to trade at 5,203.25 per troy ounce.
On the currency front, EUR/SAR moved 0.08% to 4.42, and USD/SAR was unchanged at 3.75. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.06% at 97.83.
Implications for market participants
The session's pattern - a broad market decline led by specific sectors while select utility and manufacturing names outperformed - highlights ongoing dispersion across industry groups. Market participants tracking sector exposures in Media & Publishing, Hotels & Tourism and Building & Construction may see continued sensitivity to the dynamics that drove today's weakness, while commodity price moves, particularly in oil and gold, remain relevant to market sentiment.
Closing note
Overall, Wednesday's trade left the Tadawul All Share at a one-month low with a negative breadth profile and a handful of high- and low-performing names marking multi-period extremes.