Riyadh-Mubasher: Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed Tuesday's choppy trading below the 5,900 level amid fluctuating oil prices.

The benchmark dropped 0.54% or 31.86 points to shut at 5,873.64 compared 5,905 on Monday.

Today's volatile trading coincided with Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi's statement that discussions with his Venezuelan counterpart on Sunday were successful and conducted in a positive atmosphere.  

Venezuela's Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino was on a tour of oil producers to lobby for action to prop up prices.

Crude and Brent prices declined on Monday for the third straight day to $33.22 and $29.93, respectively, and then reached $30.02 and $32.95 on Tuesday.

Five sectors rose, topped by industrial investment and real estate development which gained 0.86% and 0.36% in a row. Meanwhile, 11 sectors fell, led by the insurance and retail which shed 2.21% and 1.92%, respectively.

Liquidity leapt 20.9% to SAR 6.4 billion, compared with SAR 5.2 billion yesterday. Traded volume also increased 21.4% to 349.27 million shares from 287.59 million shares.

Losers outnumbered gainers 92 to 69. Shams was the big drag, losing 4.77%, followed by Al Hammadi which moved 4.72% lower. Meanwhile, Wafra was the top gainer, leaping 9.98%.

Translated by Abdul Maguid Aboshahla