Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) fell on Wednesday, dropping 27 points (-0.25%) to close at 11,006.80. The index opened 17 points below its previous close, but it recovered some losses before the close; however, it still ended in the red zone. Overall, 11 out of 21 sectors closed in the red zone, and 157 shares rose while 98 fell. Banks (-1.1%), Telecommunication Services (-0.9%), and Materials (-0.4%) sectors contributed the most to the index decline. Stockwise, Alrajhi (-1.4%), Maaden (-2.3%), and SNB (-0.8%) were the major contributors to the index decline. The trading activity witnessed an increase in volume and value of +20% and +24%, respectively, to reach 242mn shares and SAR 5bn in value traded.
Market Wrap International:
U.S. equities ended mixed as investors continued to reassess technology and artificial-intelligence valuations following recent pressure on semiconductor shares, while lower oil prices supported travel-related stocks and helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average outperform. Market participants also weighed the outlook for Federal Reserve policy and the impact of elevated Treasury yields on growth sectors, leading to selective positioning across major benchmarks. The S&P 500 declined -0.1%, the NASDAQ dropped -0.4%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.4%.
European equities ended mixed as investors balanced easing energy-price pressures against lingering uncertainty surrounding the Middle East and corporate earnings developments. Defensive sectors and consumer-related shares provided support, while industrial and defense names weighed on sentiment in parts of the region. The FTSE 100 gained 0.3%, the CAC 40 advanced 0.5%, and the EURO STOXX 600 increased 0.1%, while the DAX declined -0.6%.
Asian markets are trading with mixed performance as strong earnings and forecasts from major U.S. chipmakers improved confidence in the artificial-intelligence sector and supported technology-related shares across the region. South Korean equities led gains on renewed demand for semiconductor stocks, while Japanese shares lagged as investors remained cautious toward recent market volatility. The KOSPI gained 3.3%, the Hang Seng advanced 0.3%, and the Shanghai Composite increased 0.1%, while the Nikkei 225 declined -0.9%.