Riyadh – Mubasher: The Saudi Stock Exchange's (Tadawul) benchmark index closed June in the green, logging its biggest rise in seven months or since November 2016.

The Tadawul All Shares Index (TASI) surged 8.07%, adding 554.5 points to close the month at 7,425.7 points.

June comprised 16 sessions, with the last trading session being on Wednesday, 21 June as the country celebrates the Eid Al Fitr holidays, which for Tadawul commenced on Thursday, 22 June and will run through Saturday, 1 July. Trading on Tadawul is set to resume on Sunday, 2 July.

Turnover amounted to SAR 54.7 billion ($14.6 billion) during the 16-session month, after 2.9 billion shares changes hands, versus SAR 64.7 billion ($17.2 billion) and 4.1 billion shares traded in May.

On TASI, 14 sectors ended up, with food production surging 16.17% followed by banks, telecoms and materials with 12.9%, 7.98% and 3.37%, respectively.

Meanwhile, the parallel market "Nomu" index, dropped 6.26% or 254.7 points to close at 3,815.11 points.

Turnover on the index amounted to SAR 68.69 million after 2.07 million shares were exchanged against SAR 70.2 million and 3.3 million shares the month before.