Tadawul turnover falls 19.7 percent

Updated 22 September 2012
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Tadawul turnover falls 19.7 percent

Despite a positive start (61.36 points), a bearish trend continued to prevail at Saudi stock market last week.
The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI), reflecting a falling peak-trough combination continued stepping its way lower throughout the week, ended in the red territory at 7,057.01 points, down 47.49 points or 0.67 percent from its previous weekend close at 7,104.5 points. Its
weekly trading range expanded to 145.7 points as compared to previous week's 73.5 points.
On year-to-date basis, the TASI’s yield reached to 639.28 points or 9.96 percent.
The market capitalization of Saudi stock exchange decreased slightly (-0.54 percent), reaching at the previous week’s level of SR 1.4 trillion. Small cap performed worst among the market cap indices, declining more than 1.39 percent in a week.
Sectoral performance was negative, as 13 out of the 15 sectors closed in downward territory, paring an aggregate of 795 points for the entire week.
Hotel & Tourism sector posted the largest losses, falling 2.01 percent to close the week at 7,589.19. Media and Multi-Investment sectors followed it, trimming 1.95 percent and 1.82 percent respectively. Only Transport and Energy sectors remained green, reflecting a weekly growth of 1.59 percent and 0.25 percent respectively.
Decliners outnumbered the advancers by a margin of 101 to 45 and the prices of 8 stocks remained unchanged last week.
Most of heavy weights closed in red, with Kingdom Holding changing its position from top gainer of previous week to the biggest loser of the week, down 2.28 percent. The market leader SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp.) followed it, dipping by 2.20 percent. However, Saudi Arabia Fertilizers Co. (SAFCO) outdid rest of the heavyweight peers, advancing 0.8 percent to close the week at SR 188.5.
Among all Saudi companies, Gulf General Insurance (+12.3 percent) and Al-Sorayai Trading & Industrial Group (+10.45 percent) showing notable gains became the key performers of the week.
Allianz Saudi Fransi, on the other hand, came out as the worst performing stock, topping the decliner weekly chart with 18.28 percent negative change.
Tadawul weekly turnover went down by 19.7 percent in terms of volume and 15.7 percent in terms of value. More than 1 billion shares worth SR 29.3 billion changed hands on the Saudi stock market.


Furthermore, upside-downside volume ratio of 0.4:1 remained slightly weak.
Most of the major benchmark indices at GCC stock markets ended the week in green.
The benchmark GulfBase GCC General Index closed the week higher at 3,967.42 points level, adding 16.09 points or 0.41 percent for the entire week.


Qatar residential property sales jump 44% in 2025 as prices ease: Knight Frank 

Updated 7 sec ago
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Qatar residential property sales jump 44% in 2025 as prices ease: Knight Frank 

RIYADH: Qatar’s residential property sales surged 43.5 percent in 2025 to 26.6 billion Qatari riyals ($7.30 billion), driven by rising transaction volumes even as home prices softened, according to Knight Frank. 

The number of residential deals climbed 50 percent in 2025 from a year earlier to 6,831 transactions, signaling sustained liquidity in the market despite a more competitive pricing environment, the property consultancy said in its Qatar Real Estate Market Review. 

In line with broader trends across the Gulf Cooperation Council, Qatar is seeking to strengthen its real estate sector as part of its economic diversification efforts. 

Faisal Durrani, head of research at Knight Frank for the Middle East and North Africa region, said: “Although residential prices are softening, strong growth in transaction volumes highlights continued liquidity and demand in Qatar’s core residential markets and indicating stabilization, rather than a market in retreat.”  

In the fourth quarter of 2025, residential sales activity remained concentrated in key locations, led by Doha, which recorded 564 transactions with a combined value of 2.4 billion riyals. Al Wakrah followed with 387 transactions worth 895 million riyals. 

“Average villa prices fell by 1 percent during the 12 months to the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting a more competitive pricing environment as supply expands and buyers become increasingly value-led. Despite this moderation, prime locations remain resilient, supported by steady demand for premium schemes,” said Durrani. 

Rental rates also eased, with average villa rents down 2.4 percent year on year in the fourth quarter to 12,985 riyals per month. Prime locations continued to outperform, with West Bay Lagoon averaging 18,656 riyals a month for three-bedroom villas and up to 25,696 riyals for five-bedroom units. Overall villa rents declined 3 percent in 2025. 

“Qatar’s residential rental market continues to be shaped by tenant demand for well-located, lifestyle-led communities, with pricing remaining strong for larger villas in established neighborhoods,” said Knight Frank’s Adam Stewart.

Qatar’s office market showed similar trends, with grade-A rents falling 1.4 percent year on year to 90 riyals per sq. meter per month. Demand remained focused on prime districts, led by West Bay and the Marina District, as occupiers shifted away from older buildings. 

“Economic diversification in line with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 is supporting job growth and office demand, especially in the tech, green energy, and services sectors,” said Stewart. 

He added: “These occupiers are increasingly seeking high-specification, modern buildings with advanced facilities, and we are seeing a clear shift toward prime locations in Doha and Lusail, pulling tenants away from older stock.”