Tadawul Review: ‎

Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) fell on Thursday, dropping 231 points (-2.32%) to close at 9,695.86. The index opened 40 points below its previous close, but it recovered some losses before the close; however, it still ended in the red zone. Overall, 21 out of 21 sectors closed in the red zone, and 13 shares rose while 251 fell. Banks (-2.1%), Materials (-3.7%), and Energy (-0.8%) sectors contributed the most to the index decline. Stockwise, SNB (-5.1%), Maaden (-4.9%), and Saudi Aramco (-0.7%) were the major contributors to the index decline. The trading activity witnessed an increase in volume and value of +26% and +18%, respectively, to reach 329mn shares and SAR 4.9bn in value traded.

 

Market Wrap International:  

U.S. equities ended lower as rising oil prices and Treasury yields reinforced inflation concerns, while investors remained cautious about the funding requirements of artificial-intelligence investment despite some stabilization in technology shares. Brent crude climbed above $116 a barrel amid concerns about Middle East supply disruptions, while attention shifted toward upcoming technology earnings and the Federal Reserve’s policy decision. The S&P 500 declined 0.5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.2%, and the NASDAQ lost 0.2%.

European equities ended lower as higher energy prices, political uncertainty in France, and concerns over artificial-intelligence valuations weighed on risk appetite. Luxury stocks came under pressure following weaker sales at Gucci, while energy shares benefited from rising crude prices; a weaker euro and elevated French bond yields added to the cautious tone. The FTSE 100 declined 0.3%, the DAX fell 0.7%, the CAC 40 lost 0.4%, and the EURO STOXX 600 eased 0.3%.

Asian markets are trading on a mixed footing as investors assess global technology-sector volatility, elevated oil prices, and the potential implications for inflation and monetary policy. Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong equities are supported by a recovery in regional shares, while South Korean stocks remain sensitive to semiconductor-sector sentiment; Japan’s market is comparatively weaker. The Shanghai Composite gained 0.9%, the KOSPI advanced 0.3%, the Nikkei 225 declined 0.3%, and the Hang Seng rose 0.7%.