Saudi Companies Enter Countdown to Disclose Financial Results

Saudi Companies Enter Countdown to Disclose Financial Results
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Saudi Companies Enter Countdown to Disclose Financial Results

Saudi Companies Enter Countdown to Disclose Financial Results

Saudi firms have started the countdown to announce their financial results for the final quarter of 2019.

Traders of the Saudi stock exchange are anticipating the results of 138 companies whose financial results haven’t been revealed yet. These firms represent 70 percent of the total listed companies.

So far, a total of 61 listed companies announced their results for Q4 2019. The results showed progress in the performance of 39 listed companies during 2019 compared to 2018. This progress is embodied through two types: companies that achieved remarkable growth in financial results for 2019 and companies that managed to reinforce their operating roles.

Amid this anticipation, Tadawul commenced the new month’s trading following sharp setbacks in global markets and oil prices last week. This coincides with the Dow Jones index sliding last Friday from 1,100 points to 357 points.

The performance of the Saudi stock exchange is expected to be more stable and balanced compared to most global financial markets. It managed to maintain a level of 7,500 points, in addition to the fact that the already announced results brought hope to investors.

In this context, the Saudi index closed last week’s trading with a decline of 4.7 percent i.e. 379 points. It closed at 7,628 points compared to last week’s 8,007 points. This was the greatest weekly loss since August.

The value of total trading last week witnessed a remarkable rise of around SAR19.9 billion (USD5.3 billion) compared to around SAR14.17 billion (USD3.77 billion) during the week before. This indicates a rise of 40.4 percent.



Kuwait Seeks to Offer Flexible Incentives to Attract Foreign Investments

Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
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Kuwait Seeks to Offer Flexible Incentives to Attract Foreign Investments

Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)
Kuwait City (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)

Mohammad Yaqoub, Assistant Director General for Business Development at Kuwait’s Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), announced that Kuwait is actively working to boost investments in emerging sectors such as the management of government facilities, hospitals, and ports, including Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port.

He added that his country is collaborating with Saudi Arabia on joint projects, notably the development of a railway linking the two nations.

Speaking at the 28th Annual Global Investment Conference in Riyadh, Yaqoub highlighted the 650-kilometer railway project, which is expected to cut travel time between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to under three hours. He clarified that this initiative is separate from the broader GCC railway network under development.

The official further emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to offering streamlined processes and incentives to attract foreign investment in critical sectors such as oil and gas, healthcare, education, and technology.

Since January 2015, the Gulf country has attracted cumulative foreign investments valued at approximately 1.7 billion Kuwaiti dinars ($5.8 billion). During the 2023–2024 fiscal year, KDIPA reported foreign investment inflows amounting to 206.9 million Kuwaiti dinars ($672 million).

Yaqoub stressed that KDIPA is focused on creating an investor-friendly environment by offering flexible incentives to attract international companies. He noted Saudi Arabia’s achievements in this area and highlighted his country’s efforts to provide comparable benefits to foreign investors.

He also expressed optimism about the potential for growth in foreign investments in Kuwait, emphasizing their role in advancing economic development in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Yaqoub also underscored the strong synergy between the Kuwaiti and Saudi markets, which he said will help accelerate economic progress across the region.