* Ahmed Al-Rasheed from Riyadh
Saudi stocks regained 8,000 points to close at 21 points, up 0.3 percent. The rise was supported by the banking sector and the "basic materials" played a supporting role too.
The market had gained more during the session at 0.8%, but it lost most of the gains at the end of the session, which shows the activity of sellers. This may affect the day's trading if these pressures persist and threaten to hold above 8000 points.
The market faces resistance at levels 8050-8100 points while support was at 7911 points.
Overall market performance
The general index opened at 7978 points, trading between high and low. The highest point in the session was at 8045 points, 0.8%, while the lowest point at the session was at 7967 points, losing 0.14%. At the end of the session, the index closed at 8,000 points, gaining 21 points, or 0.3 percent.
Liquidity rose 12 percent by about 213 million riyals to reach 1.9 billion riyals.
The average transaction value was 26 thousand riyals per transaction.
While the traded shares increased by 3% by about 2 million shares to reach 77 million shares traded, and the turnover rate was 0.15%.
Deals rose 29 per cent by about 17,000 to reach 76,000 deals.
Sector performance
Nine sectors declined versus the rise of the rest. The decline was led by "media" of 1 percent, followed by "food segmentation" of 0.5 percent and "utilities" of 0.5 percent.
The rise was led by "food production" by 1.1 per cent, followed by "transport" by 1 per cent and "real estate management and development" by 1 per cent.
The highest turnovers were "basic materials" by 28% with a value of SR 556 million, followed by "banks" by 28 per cent with a value of 553 million riyals, and "management and development of real estate" by 8 per cent with a value of 165 million riyals.
Stock performance
The rise was led by "Wafa Insurance" with the maximum gain and close at SAR10.94, followed by "eXtra" by 5 per cent to close at SAR 59.50 and "CARE" by 4.5 per cent to close at SAR 51.80.
On the other hand, the decline was led by "Bonyan Reit" by 4 per cent to close at SAR 9.26, followed by "SFICO" by 3.55 per cent to close at SAR 23.90 and "Al-Baha" by 3 per cent to close at SAR 16.68.
"SABIC" had the highest turnover of SAR 251 million at 13 per cent, followed by "Alinma" with a value of SR 222 million at 11 per cent, and then "Al Rajhi" of 7 per cent with a value of SR 149 million.
* Economic Reports Unit
