06 July 2016
JEDDAH: The Saudi stock market fell in the first half of this year. 

According to Tadawul Statistical Report, at the end of the first half of 2016, the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed at 6,499.88 points, down 2,587.01 points or 28.47 percent over the close of the same period of the previous year. 

On an YTD basis TASI registered a negative decrease of 5.96 percent (411.88 points). 

The report said highest close level for the index during the period was 6,952.22 point as on Jan. 3, 2016.

Total equity market capitalization at the end of the first half 2016 reached SR1.50 trillion ($401.16 billion), declined by 25.29 percent over the end of the 1st half of the previous year.

The total value of shares traded for the 1st half 2016 reached SR688.19 billion ($183.52 billion), dropped by 34.07 percent over the same period of the previous year.

The total number of traded shares reached 38.74 billion during the 1st half compared to 39.03 billion shares traded during the 1st half of the previous year, decreased by 0.74 percent.

The Tadawul report said total number of transactions executed during the 1st half 2016 reached 16.04 million compared to 17.85 million trades during the 1st half of the previous year, decreased by (10.14 percent.

Meanwhile, the total value of shares traded for the week ending June 30, 2016 amounted to SR21.71 billion, increasing by 40.60 percent over the previous week; while total stock market capitalization reached SR1.504 trillion at the end of this period, decreasing by 0.59 percent over the previous week.

The total value of shares purchased by Saudi investors during this period amounted to SR20.74 billion representing 95.52 percent of total buying activity, and sales of SR20.86 billion representing 96.08 percent of total selling activity. Total ownership of Saudi investors" stood at 93.24 percent of total market capitalization as of June 30, 2016, representing an increase of 0.01 percent from the previous week. 

The total value of shares purchased by GCC investors during this period amounted to SR0.306 billion, representing 1.41 percent of total buying activity, and sales of SR0.260 billion, representing 1.20 percent of total selling activity. Total ownership of GCC investors stood at 2.56 percent of total market capitalization as of June 30, 2016, representing an increase of 0.0003 percent from the previous week. 

The total value of shares purchased by foreign investors during this period amounted to SR0.666 billion representing 3.07 percent of total buying activity, and sales of SR0.592 billion representing 2.73 percent of total selling activity. Total ownership of foreign investors stood at 4.21 percent of total market capitalization as of June 30, 2016, representing a decrease of 0.01 percent from the previous week.

© Arab News 2016