Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) fell on Thursday, slipping 127 points (-1.2%) to close at 10,818. The index opened 8 points below its previous close and continued to gradually decline until the end of the session. In general, 21 out of 21 sectors closed in the red zone, while 233 shares fell and 26 rose. Banks (-1.6%), Energy (-0.7%), and Real Estate (-1.8%) sectors contributed the most to the index fall. Stockwise, Al Rajhi Bank (-1.6%), Aramco (-0.7%), and Saudi National Bank (-1.6%) were the major contributors. The trading activity witnessed a decrease in volume and value of -42% and -34%, respectively, to reach 218mn shares and SAR4.5bn in value traded.
Market Wrap International:
U.S. equities ended slightly lower as cautious positioning around interest-rate expectations and muted risk appetite weighed on major benchmarks, with Treasury yields remaining elevated and limiting upside in growth and technology shares. Defensive sectors were relatively resilient, while large-cap technology and consumer discretionary names lagged as investors stayed selective ahead of upcoming macro signals. The S&P 500 declined -0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell -0.2%, and the NASDAQ slipped -0.1%.
European equities ended lower, pressured by weak risk sentiment and declines in cyclical sectors, as investors digested cautious corporate updates and lingering concerns over economic momentum in the euro area. Industrials and consumer stocks underperformed, while energy and defensives offered limited support amid subdued trading volumes. The FTSE 100 edged down -0.04%, the DAX fell -0.2%, the CAC 40 declined -0.7%, and the EURO STOXX 600 slipped -0.03%.
Asian markets traded mixed, with South Korea outperforming on strength in technology shares, while mainland China, Japan, and Hong Kong declined amid cautious global sentiment and ongoing concerns around regional growth and currency dynamics. Semiconductor stocks supported gains in Seoul, but exporters and financials weighed on markets elsewhere. The SHCOMP fell -0.3%, the KOSPI rose 0.9%, the Nikkei 225 declined -0.3%, and the Hang Seng slipped -0.3%.