Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,760

Some 123 of the listed stocks advanced on Thuesday, while 109 retreated. Shutterstock
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Updated 20 March 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,760

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Thursday, gaining 50.89 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 11,760.32.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.89 billion ($1.57 billion), as 123 of the listed stocks advanced, while 109 retreated.   

The MSCI Tadawul Index increased by 6.13 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 1,490.20.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu dipped, losing 162.11 points, or 0.53 percent, to close at 30,521.53. This comes as 43 of the listed stocks advanced while 31 retreated.

The best-performing stock was Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co., with its share price surging by 9.87 percent to SR7.68.

Other top performers included Retal Urban Development Co., which saw its share price rise by 4.96 percent to SR16.50, and Ades Holding Co., which saw a 4.38 percent increase to SR16.70.

The worst performer of the day was Sinad Holding Co., whose share price fell by 6.91 percent to SR12.40.

Gulf General Cooperative Insurance Co. and SICO Saudi REIT Fund also saw declines, with their shares dropping by 6.19 percent and 5.18 percent to SR9.55 and SR3.66, respectively.

On the announcements front, Amwaj International Co. announced its financial results for 2024, with net profits reaching SR6.3 million, down by 60.1 percent compared to the previous year.

In a statement on Tadawul, the company attributed the decrease to restructuring inventory and marketing mix to accommodate new technology, which has a higher demand level and profit margin than before. 

“The addition of new products will positively impact sales and results for 2025 and will boost cash flow,” the statement said.

In another announcement, Gulf General Cooperative Insurance Co. revealed its annual financial results for 2024.

The company’s insurance revenues in 2024 reached SR414.3 million, up from SR315.6 million in the previous year, marking a 31.2 percent surge. 

This was principally driven by business growth and an increase in the motor line of business, according to a statement by the firm.

In today’s trading session, the group’s shares traded 6.19 percent lower on the main market to close at SR9.55.

Saudi Printing and Packaging Co. also announced its annual financial results for last year.

The company’s net loss surged to SR219.4 million from SR132.3 million in the previous year due to establishing a provision for credit losses in trade receivables and recording impairment in fixed assets, inventory, and goodwill.

In Thursday’s session, the firm’s shares traded 2.43 percent lower on the main market to close at SR10.42.

On another note, Saudi Industrial Investment Group has announced that its board of directors has recommended a share buyback of up to 11 million ordinary shares, subject to approval by the Extraordinary General Assembly. 

In a statement on Tadawul, the group said that the buyback aims to hold 10 million shares as treasury while allocating 1 million shares to the company’s long-term employee incentives program. 

The repurchase will be financed through internal resources, and the acquired shares will not carry voting rights in General Assembly meetings.

SIIG will comply with regulatory solvency requirements, with a solvency report from external auditors to be included in the EGA approval process.

In today’s trading session, SIIG’s shares traded 1.72 percent higher on the main market to close at SR15.36.


Jordan signs 2 mineral exploration MoUs in Southern regions 

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Jordan signs 2 mineral exploration MoUs in Southern regions 

JEDDAH: Jordan signed two agreements to explore mineral resources in Wadi Abu Al-Buraq and Samra Al-Taybeh in the southern part of the country, aiming to attract investment and create jobs. 

The first memorandum of understanding allows prospecting for base, precious, critical and strategic minerals — including rare earth elements — across 13.9 sq. km in the Jabal Samra Al-Taybeh area for a period of 67 weeks, the Jordan News Agency, also known as Petra, reported. 

The second MoU covers the exploration of gold ore, as well as base, precious, critical, and strategic minerals, and rare earth elements, over 106 sq. km in the Jabal Abu Al-Buraq area for 98 weeks. 

Mining is a central pillar of Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, which aims to raise the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product to 2.1 percent by 2033, expand employment to 27,000 workers and lift exports to 3.4 billion Jordanian dinars ($4.8 billion).

The government estimates untapped opportunities at about $1.14 billion, including in calcium phosphate and specialized phosphate products. 

The deals were signed by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh and Bassam Fakhouri, director general of the Chemical and Mining Industries Co. 

“At the signing ceremony, Kharabsheh said the step will strengthen the mining sector’s contribution to the national economy and support investment, knowledge transfer, and job creation under an integrated national program to develop and utilize Jordan’s mineral resources,” Petra reported. 

He added that the MoUs support the government’s strategy to expand responsible investment and foster partnerships with qualified national and international firms, facilitating technology transfer and creating jobs for Jordanians. 

The minister said the agreements build on earlier MoUs covering gold, copper, rare earth elements, phosphate and lithium, with three additional agreements currently under negotiation. 

Jordan’s mining industries currently export to 61 countries, with India accounting for 44 percent of shipments, followed by Indonesia, China, Egypt and Brazil, according to a Jordan Chamber of Industry report cited by Petra. Exports rose 12 percent in the first nine months of the year to 859 million dinars. 

The sector, which includes phosphate, potash and chemical minerals, employs around 8,000 people directly and supplies most of Jordan’s domestic demand.