The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) started a sideways walk along the break-even line earlier yesterday, abruptly changed its direction toward south during mid of the session and finally closed in the red territory at 6,588.81 points, down 52.49 points or 0.79 percent over the previous close. The index went 9 points high and 67 points below the break-even line.
All market cap indices ended the day in the red zone.
Four out of Tadawul's fifteen sectors ended the day in green territory, accumulating only 80 points collectively. Remaining eleven sectors lost an aggregate of 683 points for the day.
Insurance sector became the biggest loser of the day, down by 4.9 percent to close at 1,080.32.
Banking sector trimmed more than 200 points, as heavy weights Al-Rajhi Bank, Samba Financial Group and SABB dipped by 2.0 percent, 1.6 percent and 0.9 percent respectively.
Among heavy weights, only Saudi Arabia Fertilizers Co. (SAFCO) bucked the prevailing trend, advancing by 1.2 percent.
The market breadth was negative with 109 stocks witnessing declines against 28 stocks witnessing advances.
Tadawul's trading activity and performance was dominated by Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain), which liquidated more than 60.6 million shares worth SR755.1 million to close the day at SR12.5.
It jumped to 5.04 percent for the day and remained as top gainer amongst all Saudi stocks.
On the other hand, the top decliners chart was filled by insurance stocks, led by Al-Alamiya Insurance and Gulf Union Insurance, showing a negative change over 9.7 percent.
Tadawul keeps downward march
