The Saudi stock market saw a significant setback on Monday, passing through a lean session of 0.87 percent.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark stock index (TASI) fell to 9,724.75, trimming 85 points roughly. The index slipped into red territory earlier and plunged to a maximum of 130 points during the day.

The market cap indices all finished to the downside, with Micro Cap going down by 1.9 percent.

Only Media and Publishing sector bucked the prevailing downward trend, jumping over 6.5 percent and crossing 5,000-mark. Tihama Advertising & Public Relations Co. again topped the performance chart, surging 9.93 percent further to SR332. This is all-time high price level of Tihama.

Remaining all sectors dropped an aggregate of 1,632 points. Tourism and Insurance sectors have fallen prey to profit-taking, each reducing by 2.2 percent for the session.

Top ten heavyweights slipped from previous day’s level, with Saudi Electricity Co. dipping by 2.27 percent, SABB 1.94 percent and bellwether SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp.) 1.09 percent.

The market breadth was in the favor of bears as out of 160 stocks only 18 managed for gains. Saudi Indian Company for Co-operative Insurance suffered worst of all equities, falling 9.8 percent for the day.

Most of the trading was concentrated in Dar Alarkan Real Estate, which liquidated 122 million shares, a relative market share of 21 percent. The company volume was three times greater than its 50-day average volume.

Dar Al-Arkan with a liquidity of SR1.8 billion also topped the value chart, pumping 12.2 percent market turnover.

Roughly 580 million shares worth SR14.5 billion were poured into the market. This turnover reflects 29.4 percent increase in terms of volume and 18.8 percent in terms of value as compared to the previous day.

Surprisingly, Tadawul volume went 72.8 percent high over the 50-day average level.