Riyadh – Mubasher: The Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) closed Thursday up after its benchmark Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) jumped 79.2 points, or 1.02%, to 7,840.94 points, registering its highest level in more than two years and half or since 20 August 2015.

By the end of the last session of this week, TASI’s trading volume stood at 213.2 million shares, against 186.4 million on Wednesday, while traded value increased to SAR 5.12 billion ($1.36 billion), up from SAR 4.14 billion ($1.1 billion).

During Thursday’s activities, about 16 private transactions were executed on some stocks including Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), and National Commercial Bank (NCB).

The deals saw trading of 4.35 million shares, with a turnover of SAR 288 million.

The telecommunication services, materials, and banks sectors went up 3.25%, 1.47%, and 0.92%, respectively.

On the negative side, the food and staples retailing sector inched down 0.97%, while media shed 0.44%.

Saudi Steel Pipe’s stock topped TASI’s gainers after growing 6.17% to SAR 22.38, whereas Saudi Company for Hardware’s (SACO) stock was the bourse’s worst performer with 2.25% to close at SAR 130.20.

In the meantime, the main index of the Nomu-Parallel Market, NOMU, rose 2.38 points, or 0.08%, to close at 2,979.09 points.

Arab Sea Information System’s stock edged up 0.44% to SAR 11.42, whereas the stock of Al-Omran Industrial Trading tumbled 3.75% to finish at SAR 15.40.

Translated by: Mohamed Hesham Azab.