Market close overview
Saudi Arabia's stock market ended the trading session lower on Thursday, with the Tadawul All Share index losing 1.28% to settle at a new one-month low. The downward pressure came amid sector-level weakness in Media & Publishing, Petrochemicals and Energy & Utilities, which weighed on overall market performance.
Top gainers and losers
- Among the day's strongest performers, Al-Rajhi Cooperative Insurance (TADAWUL:8230) led gains, rising 9.96% or 6.75 points to close at 74.50.
- Jazan Development Co. (TADAWUL:6090) added 9.89% or 0.75 points, finishing at 8.33.
- Gulf Insurance Group (TADAWUL:8250) climbed 7.48% or 1.60 points to end at 23.00.
- On the downside, Saudi Research and Marketing Group (TADAWUL:4210) fell 9.86% or 8.95 points to trade at 81.85 at the close.
- City Cement Co (TADAWUL:3003) dropped 5.51% or 0.67 points to 11.50.
- Emaar The Economic City (TADAWUL:4220) was down 4.35% or 0.38 points to finish at 8.35.
Market breadth and notable lows
Decliners outnumbered advancers on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange by 196 to 131, with 16 issues unchanged at the close. Several companies reached significant low points during Thursday's session: shares of Saudi Research and Marketing Group fell to 3-year lows at 81.85, City Cement Co declined to 5-year lows at 11.50, and Emaar The Economic City reached an all-time low at 8.35.
Commodities and FX
Energy and commodity markets were softer in late trade. Crude oil for April delivery was down 1.94% or 1.27 to $64.15 a barrel. Brent oil for May delivery fell 1.46% or 1.03 to $69.66 a barrel. In precious metals, the April Gold Futures contract eased 0.43% or 22.59 to trade at $5,203.61 a troy ounce.
On foreign exchange, EUR/SAR was effectively unchanged, moving 0.05% to 4.43, while USD/SAR was unchanged by 0.01% to 3.75. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.01% at 97.63.
Implications for sectors
The session's sector concentration of losses - Media & Publishing, Petrochemicals and Energy & Utilities - underpinned the slide in the aggregate index. Meanwhile, gains in selected insurance and development names provided isolated pockets of strength but were not sufficient to offset broad market weakness.
Closing note
Thursday's trading left the Tadawul All Share at a one-month low, with market breadth skewed toward declines and notable downturns among specific large-cap names. Commodity and FX movements were modestly negative for oil and gold while exchange rates against the riyal were largely unchanged.