(MENAFN - Arab News) The Saudi stock index ended higher for a third day in four on Wednesday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed 25.12 points higher at 6,281.60, its highest close since Jan. 25.
Shares in Al-Rajhi Bank climbed by 0.34 percent to SR74.25. The other gainers were Bank AlJazira, up 1.10 percent, Banque Saudi Fransi, 0.95 percent, Bank Albilad, 0.82 percent, SABB, 0.41 percent and Samba Financial Group, 0.45 percent.
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) shares surged 1.16 percent to SR87.50.
Sector losses were in the Transport, Retail and Energy & Utilities, down 0.19 percent, 0.60 percent and 0.70 percent respectively. On the other hand, sector gains ranged from 0.11 percent in both the Real Estate and Multi-Investment to a gain of 1.16 percent in the Insurance sector. Overall market breadth was positive, with 76 advancers and 35 decliners, recording an AD ratio of 2.17, the Jeddah-based Financial Transaction House (FTH) said in its daily market commentary.
Saudi Arabian Cooperative Insurance Company shares jumped by 8.33 percent to SR71.50, Saudi Indian Company for Cooperative Insurance by 5.56 percent to SR57, Saudi IAIC Cooperative Insurance Co. by 3.67 percent to SR56.50, and Arabia Insurance Cooperative Company by 2.76 percent to SR26.10. However, United Cooperative Assurance Co. was the top loser on Wednesday. Its shares dropped 4.94 percent to SR38.50.
The stock market turnover was SR2.52 billion on Wednesday.
According to Tadawul's January statistical report, released this week, the TASI closed 2.14 percent or 130.79 points higher at 6,252.55 over the close of the previous month. The index gained 30.02 percent compared to the end of January 2009.
Highest close level for the index during the month was 6,409.04 as on Jan. 18.
Total equity market capitalization in January reached SR1.24 trillion (331.22 billion), increased by 3.90 percent compared to December.
The Tadawul report said total value of shares traded in January reached SR65.65 billion (17.51 billion), up 23.49 percent over the previous month.
The report said percentage share of Saudi nationals from the market trades was 90 percent for selling (SR59.12 billion) and 84.5 percent for buying (SR55.45 billion). The percentage share of Saudi companies from the market trades was 4.1 percent for selling (SR1.96 billion) and 9.2 percent for buying (SR4.99 billion).
The percentage share of investment funds from the market trades was 2.3 percent for selling (SR1.49 billion) and 2.9 percent for buying (SR1.94 billion). The percentage share of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nationals from the market trades was 1.6 percent for selling (SR1.05 billion) and 1.5 percent for buying (SR1.01 billion).
The percentage share of Arab residents in Saudi Arabia from the market trades was 1.7 percent for selling (SR1.11 billion) and 1.7 percent for buying (SR1.09 billion).
The percentage share of foreigners (residents) in Saudi Arabia from the market trades was 0.3 percent for selling (SR173.19 million) and 0.2 percent for buying (SR143.78 million).
The total number of shares traded in January surged 45.68 percent to 3.23 billion compared to 2.22 billion shares traded in December.
The total number of transactions executed during January reached 1.61 million compared to 1.52 million trades for the month of December 2009.
