Saudi Stocks Trading Resumes Amid Global Rise of Oil Prices

Saudi Stocks Trading Resumes Amid Global Rise of Oil Prices
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Saudi Stocks Trading Resumes Amid Global Rise of Oil Prices

Saudi Stocks Trading Resumes Amid Global Rise of Oil Prices

The Saudi stock exchange resumes Sunday, following Eid al-Fitr. This comes amid a significant rise in oil prices, with the closing of last week's trading, which pushed Brent crude to close above $ 63 a barrel.

Trading is expected to commence with a qualitative flow of local and foreign capitals in which investors would target several firms that reported positive fiscal results during Q1 of 2019.

Today’s session is the fourth after the completion of the first phase of the local capital market inclusion in the MSCI. The index achieved gains of 134 points following the inclusion to the Emerging Markets Index, while monetary liquidity witnessed during last week’s trading a rise of 112 percent compared to the week before.

Saudi's index closed May’s trading at 8,516 points, proving the vitality of the local market and the positive performance at the same time.

In the same context, investors are anticipating a more positive performance for the Saudi stock market, as the listed companies are expected to continue their positive financial performance in the second quarter of this year. The listed firms’ results showed financial performance progress of 85 firms, with profits of SAR23.1 billion (USD6.1 billion) during Q1 of the current year.

Earlier, MSCI said 30 Saudi Arabian securities would be added, representing an aggregate weight of 1.42% in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.



Saudi Government Calls for Private Sector Involvement to Enhance Vision 2030 Reports

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Government Calls for Private Sector Involvement to Enhance Vision 2030 Reports

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government has directed greater private sector involvement in shaping the content of Vision 2030 communications and reports, according to sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. The goal is to amplify the impact of the annual Vision 2030 reports by making them more comprehensive and directly relevant to the business community.

The Strategic Management Office in the Saudi Royal Court has invited private sector stakeholders to review the annual Vision 2030 report to raise awareness of governmental achievements. Businesses are encouraged to provide feedback to ensure that future reports are more impactful and valuable for their audience.

The initiative aims to gather feedback on whether the current report format effectively delivers information relevant to the business sector. It also seeks input on the balance between general achievements and sector-specific details, as well as insights on the report’s accessibility and usefulness to business audiences.

According to the sources, the government is also evaluating the level of transparency in the report, particularly in showcasing progress and achievements. Stakeholders are being asked to suggest areas of focus for future editions to make the reports more comprehensive and relevant to their needs.

Additional proposals include enhancing collaboration between the Vision 2030 communications team and Saudi chambers of commerce to better report on progress and achievements to the private sector. Furthermore, the government is exploring the inclusion of practical success stories from businesses that have played a role in achieving Vision 2030 goals.

Since its inception, Vision 2030 has worked to identify and address challenges facing businesses. Significant reforms have been implemented to remove barriers, ensuring the private sector can fulfill its vital role in driving economic growth.

Efforts have included reforms to streamline the business environment, enhance the quality and efficiency of government services, and digitize processes. Additionally, numerous programs, initiatives, funding platforms, and business incubators and accelerators have been launched to support the private sector.

The Vision 2030 annual report for 2023 highlighted strong program performance, with 87% of the year’s 1,064 initiatives either completed or on track. Among the 243 key performance indicators (KPIs) identified, 81% of third-level KPIs met their targets, while 105 exceeded future targets set for 2024–2025.

The report also noted that non-oil gross domestic product (GDP) reached SAR 1.889 trillion, compared to a baseline of SAR 1.519 trillion. The 2023 target was SAR 1.934 trillion, with the ultimate Vision 2030 target set at SAR 4.97 trillion.

Private sector contributions to GDP increased to 45%, meeting the 2023 target and surpassing the baseline of 40.3%. The long-term Vision 2030 target is 65%.