Closing Bell: Saudi stock market ends the week in green 

Sport Clubs Co. led the gainers on Thursday, climbing 9.97 percent to SR11.25. Shutterstock
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Updated 31 July 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi stock market ends the week in green 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index ended the week on Thursday with a slight gain, rising 5.89 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 10,920.27. 

The total trading turnover reached SR4.38 billion ($1.16 billion), with 417.32 million shares traded. A total of 111 stocks advanced while 136 declined. 

The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index also edged higher, adding 2.66 points, or 0.19 percent, to finish at 1,409.74. 

On the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu, the index advanced by 115.90 points, or 0.43 percent, closing at 26,924.98. Of the listed companies, 47 gained while 31 declined. 

Sport Clubs Co. led the gainers, climbing 9.97 percent to SR11.25. They were followed by Al Babtain Power and Telecommunication Co., which rose 5.03 percent to SR56.40, and Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance Co., which added 4.27 percent to close at SR168.60.

Miahona Co. and Saudi Azm for Communication and Information Technology Co. were also among the top performers, gaining 4.23 percent and 3.85 percent, to close at SR27.10 and SR29.66, respectively. 

Saudi Steel Pipe Co. recorded the steepest decline of the session, falling 4.02 percent to SR51.30. It was followed by Yamama Cement Co., which dropped 3.8 percent to SR32.88, and Halwani Bros. Co., down 3.19 percent to SR42.42. 

Arab Insurance Cooperative Co. and Astra Industrial Group also posted losses of 2.92 percent and 2.57 percent, respectively. 

On the announcement front, Umm Al-Qura Cement Co. reported a 6.6 percent year-on-year decline in revenue for the first half of 2025, with sales amounting to SR122.5 million compared to SR131.2 million in the same period last year. 

Net profit also dropped, falling 30.8 percent to SR20.8 million from SR30.1 million over the same period. 

The company attributed the decline in revenue to a decrease in the average selling price per tonne. 

The fall in net profit was linked to the lower sales value and a reduction in other revenues, despite a decline in general and administrative expenses, financing costs, and zakat. 

Shares of Umm Al-Qura Cement Co. closed at SR15.61 on Thursday, down 0.32 percent. 

Almarai Co. confirmed the completion of its acquisition of Pure Beverages Industry Co., following its initial agreement signed on June 15. 

The company stated that the transaction reinforces its strategy to expand its beverage portfolio and strengthen its market presence, while supporting future growth plans. 

Almarai added that the acquisition was finalized with no change to the previously disclosed cost of SR1.04 billion. 

Shares of Almarai Co. closed at SR47.90 on Thursday, down 0.04 percent. 


No Saudi acquisition offers: FC Barcelona tells Al-Eqtisadiah

Updated 16 December 2025
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No Saudi acquisition offers: FC Barcelona tells Al-Eqtisadiah

CAIRO: FC Barcelona has not received any offers, whether from Saudi Arabia or elsewhere, to acquire the club, according to an official source who spoke to Al-Eqtisadiah.

According to the source, the circulating news regarding the possibility of finalizing a deal to acquire the club in the coming period is a mere rumor.

Recent Spanish reports had indicated the possibility of a Saudi acquisition of Barcelona shares for around €10 billion ($11.7 billion), a move considered capable of saving the club from its financial crises if it were to happen, especially as it suffers from debts estimated at around €2.5 billion.

Sale not in management’s hands

Joan Gaspart, the former president of the club, confirmed that the current board of directors, chaired by Joan Laporta, does not have the right to dispose of the club’s ownership.

He added: “FC Barcelona is owned by about 150,000 members, and selling the club is something the owners will not accept. FC Barcelona possesses something no other club in the world has; money is very important, and so is passion, but the sentiment of the members today is to continue what the club has been for 125 years.”

High market value

Despite the financial crisis the club has been going through in recent years, FC Barcelona ranks sixth on the list of the world’s highest market value clubs, with an estimated value of €1.12 billion, according to Transfermarkt. Meanwhile, its rival Real Madrid tops the list with a market value of €1.38 billion.