Saudi stocks drop on mixed investor sentiment: Opening bell

RIYADH: Saudi stocks open lower in the last trading session of the week on mixed earnings reports, which result in mixed investor sentiment.

The main index, TASI, fell 2.52 percent to reach 12,393, while the parallel market, Nomu, lost 1.51 percent at 22,487, as of 10:08 a.m. Saudi time.

United Wire Factories Co. dropped 2.35 percent, after announcing that it had extended its agreement with A-1 Fence Arabia Co.

Tabuk Cement Co. slumped 0.95 percent, after reporting it swung into losses of SR7 million ($2 million) in its first-quarter earnings as sales dropped.

United Cooperative Assurance Co. slipped 1.38 percent, after reporting its net loss was trimmed by 26 percent to SR19.9 million last quarter.

Saudi Real Estate Co. increased 3.34 percent to lead the gainers, after it received shareholder approval to increase capital to SR3.7 billion.

Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. slipped 5.65 percent to lead the fallers.

Saudi Aramco, the largest player on the Saudi oil market, opened today’s trading down 2.70 percent.

In the financial sector, the Kingdom’s largest valued bank Al Rajhi edged down 2.81 percent, and Alinma Bank fell 4.76 percent.

Brent crude settled at $110.43 a barrel, and US WTI crude traded at $110.34 a barrel, as of 10:16 a.m. Saudi time.