JEDDAH – Saudi Arabia stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Retail, Agriculture & Food and Hotels & Tourism sectors led shares lower.

At the close, the Saudi stock benchmark Tadawul All Share Index declined 0.72%.

The best performers of the session on the Tadawul All Share were Saudi Advanced Industries Co., which rose 9.93% or 1.18 points to trade at 13.06 at the close. Meanwhile, Malath Cooperative Insurance Co added 9.91% or 1.50 points to end at 16.64 and Red Sea Housing Services Company was up 5.15% or 0.94 points to 19.20 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Aseer Trading Tourism & Manufacturing, which fell 3.98% or 0.58 points to trade at 14.00 at the close. Saudi Industrial Investment Group declined 3.30% or 0.74 points to end at 21.70 and United Int Transportation Company was down 3.23% or 0.86 points to 25.80.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange by 131 to 37 and 10 ended unchanged.

Shares in Malath Cooperative Insurance Co rose to 52-week highs; gaining 9.91% or 1.50 to 16.64.

Crude oil for November delivery was up 0.54% or 0.28 to $52.16 a barrel.

Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in December rose 0.73% or 0.42 to hit $58.30 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract fell 0.30% or 3.80 to trade at $1282.40 a troy ounce.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.13% at 93.48. — SG/Reuters