(MENAFN - Arab News) The Saudi stock market has registered a positive return of 31.63 percent so far this year, but compared to the first nine months of last year, the performance has not been satisfactory. According to Tadawul's statistical report for the first nine months of this year, the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) lost 1,136.46 points or 15.24 percent to close at 6,322.04 points. Total equity market capitalization at the end of the first nine months was SR1.23 trillion (328.13 billion), decreasing by 15.22 percent over the end of the first nine months of last year.
The total value of shares traded for the first nine months fell by 37.69 percent to SR1.02 trillion (271.93 billion). The total number of shares traded reached 47.27 billion for the first nine months compared to 44.19 billion shares traded during the same period of the previous year, increasing by 6.97 percent.
The total number of transactions executed dropped by 29.77 percent to 30.24 million compared to 43.05 million trades during the first nine months of the previous year.
According to information available on Tadawul website, the total amount of traded shares in the Saudi stock market for September was SR59.69 billion with a decrease of 25.04 percent from the previous month in which the value of traded shares was SR79.63 billion. The total trading days for September were 17 as the market was closed for a week for the Eid Al-Fitr holiday.
The report also said percentage share of Saudi nationals from the market trades was 90.9 percent for selling (SR54.27 billion) and 86.8 percent for buying (SR51.83 billion) in September. The percentage share of Saudi companies from the market trades was 2.76 percent for selling (SR1.65 billion) and 5.21 percent for buying (SR3.11 billion). The percentage share of investment funds from the market trades was 2.1 percent for selling (SR1.28 billion) and 2.2 percent for buying (SR1.33 billion).
Meanwhile, the stock market recovered on Sunday after falling on Saturday. The TASI closed 0.59 percent higher at 6,302.10 on Sunday, with only two sectors closing with a loss, namely the Agriculture & Food Industries, which was down 0.84 percent, and the Telecom and & IT industry, which saw a loss of 0.16 percent. The other sectors saw gains ranging from 0.18 percent, in the Banks & Financial services sector, to a gain of 1.62 percent in the Real Estate Development sector. Overall market breadth was positive, with 98 advancers and 22 decliners giving an AD ratio of 4.45, the Jeddah-based Financial Transaction House (FTH) said in its daily market on Sunday.
Overall market liquidity has also improved since Saturday, reaching SR4.4 billion, however still below the SR4.7 billion plus levels seen over last week, the FTH said.
Anaam International Holding Group Co. and Bupa Arabia were the top gainers on Sunday as their shares jumped the maximum 10 percent to SR44 and SR19.80 respectively. Shares of some insurance companies also registered hefty gains on Sunday. Trade Union shares surged 9.79 percent to SR31.40, Arabia Insurance by 6.62 percent to SR30.60 and Gulf Union by 1.81 percent to SR29.
However, shares in Arabian Shield declined by 10 percent to SR36, Kingdom Holding Co. by 2.94 percent to SR4.95 and SABB by 2.40 percent to SR50.75.
By Khalil Hanware
