Closing Bell: TASI ends in green; CMA approves ETF tracking Hong Kong equities 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.71 billion ($1.52 billion), as 131 stocks advanced, while 97 retreated. AFP/File 
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Updated 17 September 2024
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Closing Bell: TASI ends in green; CMA approves ETF tracking Hong Kong equities 

  • Parallel market Nomu shed 117.01 points to close at 25,616.92
  • MSCI Tadawul Index gained 3.47 points to 1,480.13

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Tuesday, gaining 18.29 points or 0.15 percent, to close at 11,885.66.  

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.71 billion ($1.52 billion), as 131 stocks advanced, while 97 retreated.  

Nomu, the Kingdom’s parallel market, shed 117.01 points to close at 25,616.92, while the MSCI Tadawul Index gained 3.47 points to 1,480.13. 

The best-performing stock on the main index was Naseej International Trading Co., as its share price soared by 9.57 percent to SR71.  

The share price of Saudi Arabian Mining Co., also known as Ma’aden, surged by 6.61 percent to SR41.95, backed by the company’s signing of a non-binding agreement on Sept.16 with Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C., or Alba, to potentially create a global aluminum producer. 

The worst performer was Al-Baha Investment and Development Co. The company’s share price dropped by 5.56 percent to SR0.17.  

Al-Modawat Specialized Medical Co. led the gains on the Kingdom’s parallel market, with its share price jumping 9.89 percent to SR16. 

Molan Steel Co. and Academy of Learning Co. were also among the top performers on Nomu, with their shares rising 5.79 percent and 3.69 percent, respectively. 

Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority approved its first exchange-traded fund tracking Hong Kong equities on Sept. 16, marking a step forward in strengthening ties between Beijing and Riyadh. 

In a statement, the CMA announced it had approved asset manager AlBilad Investment Co.’s request to list the “Albilad CSOP MSCI Hong Kong China Equity ETF” on the Saudi Stock Exchange. 

This development follows Hong Kong’s launch of an ETF in November 2023 that tracks the performance of the Saudi index.  

In May, Michael Wong, Hong Kong’s deputy financial secretary, announced that the province was collaborating with Saudi Arabia to develop an ETF tracking Hong Kong’s local stock indices. 

The Saudi Investment Bank announced plans to establish a US dollar-denominated Tier I sukuk program, capped at $1.5 billion. 

In a bourse filing, SAIB noted that the issuance aims to meet the bank’s financial and strategic objectives, subject to regulatory approval and in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.


Saudia airline receives 27m tourists, visitors during 2025 

Updated 13 sec ago
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Saudia airline receives 27m tourists, visitors during 2025 

RIYADH: Collaboration between Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia and the Saudi Tourism Authority in 2025 resulted in the Kingdom receiving approximately 27 million tourists and visitors from 24 countries on Saudia flights.

Khaled Tash, Group chief marketing officer of Saudia, praised the partnership with the STA, noting that it will contribute to reaching the target of 150 million tourists by 2030, following the achievement of the initial target in 2023. 

The announcement was made during the launch of a Saudia aircraft adorned with the “Spirit of Saudi” logo at Saudia Technic’s maintenance, repair and overhaul village in Jeddah. 

The launch forms part of the strategic partnership with the STA aimed at enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global tourism destination. 

The aircraft will fly to 25 destinations worldwide during 2026, serving as a mobile promotional platform reflecting authentic Saudi hospitality and supporting Vision 2030 goals to attract visitors from around the world.   

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Tash said the aircraft selected for the partnership is the Boeing B787-9, designed for long-haul flights to some of the Kingdom’s farthest destinations, including Jeddah–Washington routes, as well as East Asia and China. 

For his part, Abdullah Al-Dakhil, the official spokesperson for the STA, affirmed that air connectivity is a key pillar of the tourism sector. He pointed out that the aim of this partnership, utilizing the international Boeing B787-9 aircraft, which attracts visitors from around the world, is to make the aircraft, with all its amenities, a creative promotional platform for travelers during their journey to Saudi Arabia. 

This will allow them to experience authentic Saudi hospitality even before arriving in the Kingdom, where diverse destinations, seasons and international events await year-round. 

Saudi Arabia is investing billions of dollars as part of its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels, boosting its private sector, and enhancing connectivity, as well as solidifying its role in the global aviation industry.  

As part of the plan, the Kingdom aims to serve 330 million passengers across more than 250 destinations and transport 4.5 million tonnes of air cargo by 2030.