The BMG Index for the Saudi Arabian stock market decreased over the week by 0.8 percent, having started the week at 411.09 points on Saturday and closing on Wednesday at 407.89 points. The average P/E ratio on 2006 earnings was 15.5 times, while the price to book ratio was 4.53 times.
The sectors’ performances varied from that of the index as with regard to the number of points most sectors added to their totals. Compared to the close of the previous Wednesday, the services sector outperformed all other sectors as it added 35.2 points to reach a closing level of 994.3 points, with a total trading value over the week of $1.86 billion. The agricultural sector followed with an increase of 7.3 points, to witness a rise of 0.9 percent and trading over the week of $1.57 billion. The industrial sector came in last in terms of highest percentage change with a 0.4 percent increase in its total number of points but a decline in its total traded value over the week which reached $1.8 billion.
The Al-Baha Company, within the services sector, was the best performer for last week. Emaar the Economic City, also listed in the services sector, came in second with a change of 9.5 percent and closed at SR17.25. The biggest fall, over the week, was witnessed by Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Co., within the industrial sector, with its shares falling by 6.8 percent to end the week at SR48.25.