Saudi Arabia's stock market ended Wednesday's session in positive territory, with the Tadawul All Share index closing up 0.52% as sector strength in Insurance, Industrial Investment and Financial Services supported the advance.
A number of individual names posted notable moves. The session's strongest performer was Saudi Enaya Cooperative Insurance (TADAWUL:8311), which climbed 8.61% - an increase of 0.69 points - to finish at 8.70. Bupa Arabia for Coop. Insurance (TADAWUL:8210) also delivered a strong showing, adding 8.01% or 13.30 points to end the day at 179.30. Retal Urban Development Company SJSC (TADAWUL:4322) rose 5.95% or 0.73 points to reach 13.00 by the close.
At the same time, several stocks moved lower. National Medical Care Company (TADAWUL:4005) posted the sharpest decline of the session, falling 9.99% or 15.70 points to close at 141.50. Yanbu National Petrochemical Co (TADAWUL:2290) dropped 4.90% or 1.40 points to finish at 27.20, while MBC Group CJSC (TADAWUL:4072) lost 4.13% or 1.34 points to end at 31.08.
Market breadth on the Saudi exchange favored rising issues. Advancers outnumbered decliners by 193 to 129, and 23 stocks finished unchanged.
Commodities trading saw gains during the session. Crude oil for April delivery rose 2.57%, gaining $1.60 to trade at $63.86 a barrel. Brent crude for April delivery increased 2.54%, or $1.71, to $69.13 a barrel. In precious metals, the April Gold Futures contract moved up 0.90% - a gain of $44.01 - to trade at $4,949.91 a troy ounce.
Foreign exchange rates were broadly steady at the close. EUR/SAR was effectively unchanged, moving 0.06% to 4.44, while USD/SAR was unchanged at 3.75. The US Dollar Index Futures registered a small gain, rising 0.04% to 97.10.
The session highlighted a market environment in which sector-led gains produced a modest overall advance, even as some individual large-cap names recorded significant declines. The mix of strong performances in insurance and industrial-related stocks alongside notable weakness in select healthcare and media-related shares resulted in a market outcome that was positive on balance but featured dispersion across sectors.