Tadawul Review:

The Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) edged down on Thursday, losing -81 points (-0.7%) to close at 11,553. The index began the session 39 points below the previous close and remained on a downward trajectory throughout the day, ending in negative territory. 20 out of 21 sectors closed in the red. A total of 44 stocks advanced, while 202 declined. The Banks (-0.5%), Materials (-0.9%), and Telecommunications (-0.9%) sectors were the main contributors to the decline. Among individual stocks, Aramco (-0.8%), Al Rajhi Bank (-0.5%), and ACWA Power  (-1.5%) were major drags on the index. Trading activity slowed, with share volume dropping by -15% and trading value declining by -18%, reaching 290 million shares and SAR 4.7 billion.

 

Market Wrap International:

Asian equities advanced modestly on Friday, rebounding slightly after a volatile week in U.S. markets, where sentiment was dampened by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s resistance to aligning monetary policy with market expectations. Trading activity remained subdued across the region, as investors turned cautious ahead of the Easter weekend, with both U.S. and European markets closed for the Good Friday holiday. The Nikkei 225 rose by 1.0%, the TOPIX gained 1.1%, and the KOSPI edged higher by 0.5%, while the SHCOMP inched down -0.1%.