Riyadh – Mubasher: The Saudi Stock Exchange’s main Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) closed Wednesday 0.43% or 31.31 points lower to reach 7,319.84 points.

TASI’ traded value amounted to SAR 8.33 billion on Wednesday against SAR 3.01 billion on Tuesday, while trading volume increased to 296.3 million shares, from 127.37 million shares.

The utilities, food and beverages, banks, telecommunication services, and materials sectors levelled down 1.1%, 0.9%, 0.75%, 0.3%, and 0.25%, respectively.

On the other hand, the health care sector rose 0.6%, and transportation went up 0.5%.

Al Khaleej Training and Education’s stock was TASI’s worst performer with 2.8%, whereas Saudi International Petrochemical’s (Sipchem) stock led risers with 2.8%.

Banque Saudi Fransi’s (BSF) stock topped TASI in terms of trading volume after 195.41 million shares were exchanged, generating SAR 5.76 billion.

In the meantime, the benchmark index of the Nomu-Parallel Market (NOMU) grew 0.55% or 18.72 points reaching 3,439.26 points.

Nomu’s traded volume tumbled to 29,810 shares on Wednesday against 135,280 shares on Tuesday, while liquidity slid to SAR 939,550, from SAR 3.69 million.

Al-Omran Industrial Trading’s and Abo Moati for Bookstores stocks’ increased 5.2%, and 0.24%, respectively, whereas Arab Sea Information System stock lost 2.4%, followed by Thob Al-Aseel Company’s with 1.1%.