Saudi stocks higher, TASI gains 2.07%

JEDDAH – Saudi Arabia stocks were higher after the close on Sunday, as gains in the Media & Publishing, Telecoms & IT and Transport sectors led shares higher. At the close, stock benchmark Tadawul All Share Index gained 2.07% to hit a new 3-months high. The best performers of the session on the Tadawul All Share were Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co., which rose 10.29% or 0.90 points to trade at 9.65 at the close. Meanwhile, Saudi Printing & Packaging Company added 9.93% or 1.40 points to end at 15.50 and United Int Transportation Company was up 9.89% or 2.80 points to 31.10 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Basic Chemical Industries Co, which fell 9.68% or 2.70 points to trade at 25.20 at the close. Al-Babtain Power &Telecom Co declined 3.51% or 1.00 points to end at 27.50 and Almarai Company was down 1.23% or 0.75 points to 60.00. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange by 157 to 6 and 6 ended unchanged. Crude oil for December delivery was down 3.43% or 1.53 to $43.13 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in January fell 2.79% or 1.28 to hit $44.56 a barrel, while the December Gold contract fell 3.10% or 39.25 to trade at $1227.15 a troy ounce. — SG/Agencies