Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) rose on Monday, gaining 68 points (+0.6%) to close at 10,552. The index opened 8 points above its previous close, then declined for about half an hour before recovering and continuing to rise, ultimately closing at the highest point of the session. In general, 9 out of 21 sectors closed in the green zone, and 78 shares rose while 177 fell. Banks (+1.4%), Materials (+1.5%), and Telecommunications (+0.9%) sectors contributed the most to the index rise. Stockwise, Al Rajhi Bank (+1.6%), Maaden (+5.3%), and Saudi National Bank (+1.5%) were the major contributors. The trading activity witnessed an increase in volume and value of 45% and 35%, respectively, to reach 185mn shares and SAR3.5bn in value traded.
Market Wrap International:
U.S. equities ended higher supported by broad gains in technology and cyclical sectors as Wall Street kicked off the holiday-shortened trading week on a positive note. Investors drew support from optimism about potential interest-rate cuts and strong earnings news lifting several growth names, while small caps outperformed broader benchmarks. The S&P500 rose 0.6%, the Dow Jones increased 0.5%, and the NASDAQ advanced 0.5%, reflecting broad participation even with lighter seasonal trading volume.
European equities ended modestly lower as markets entered a quiet, low-liquidity phase ahead of the Christmas break and lacked fresh catalysts, with performance mixed across sectors. The FTSE 100 declined 0.3%, the DAX was fell -0.02%, the CAC slipped 0.4%, and the EURO STOXX 600 eased 0.1%, reflecting tepid investor appetite and minor profit-taking after recent gains.
Asian markets are trading ended higher as regional equities responded positively to the U.S. lead and cyclical optimism, with exporters and tech-linked stocks advancing. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.8% and South Korea’s KOSPI rose 2.1%, while China’s SHCOMP increased 0.7% amid extended rallies in mainland shares. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng also climbed 0.4%, buoyed by broader sentiment and improved risk appetite.