Saudi Firms Announce Q4 2018 Results

 Investors talk as they monitor screens displaying stock information at the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Investors talk as they monitor screens displaying stock information at the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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Saudi Firms Announce Q4 2018 Results

 Investors talk as they monitor screens displaying stock information at the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Investors talk as they monitor screens displaying stock information at the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

The Tadawul All Share Index ended 0.2 percent higher Monday, closing at 8,402 points – a rise of 19 points amid trading value worth around SAR3.7 billion (USD986.6 million). Also, the market value rose to SAR1.99 trillion (USD530 billion) – a very close value to the record rate during a whole year.

The strong gains of Tadawul All Share Index boost investors’ confidence in the capital market trading and the capability of Saudi listed companies to achieve better profits in 2019.

Saudi firms started announcing fiscal results of Q4 2018, in which 10 listed companies have announced their results so far – these outcomes revealed a profits growth of 30 percent compared to the same period in 2017.

Fiscal results show profits’ growth of 809.5 percent at Safco, 61.7 percent at Aldrees Company, 49.6 percent at Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company, and 42 percent at National Company for Education & Learning while profits of Almarai dropped 27 percent.

The rest of the Saudi firms are expected to reveal their fiscal results in the coming days, amid expectations that Q4 profits of 2018 would be better compared to the same period in 2017.

The Saudi capital market witnessed in 2018 listing two companies in the main market and one in Nomu - Parallel Market.

Greater listing operations are anticipated n 2019.



Saudi Stocks Rebound 0.9%, Recouping Previous Session's Losses

An investor monitors stock market data on a screen at the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh (Reuters)
An investor monitors stock market data on a screen at the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh (Reuters)
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Saudi Stocks Rebound 0.9%, Recouping Previous Session's Losses

An investor monitors stock market data on a screen at the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh (Reuters)
An investor monitors stock market data on a screen at the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh (Reuters)

Saudi stocks closed higher on Monday, recovering some of the losses sustained in the previous session as heavyweight shares strengthened and the banking sector advanced.

The benchmark Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) rose 0.90% to close at 10,106 points, gaining 90 points. Total trading value reached approximately SAR 3.5 billion ($933 million).

The index had fallen 0.8% on Sunday amid selling pressure on heavyweight stocks.

Anaam International Holding Group, Fitaihi Holding Group and Raoom were among the session's top gainers, rising between 7% and 9% to close at SAR 11.93, SAR 2.11 and SAR 72.30, respectively.

On the losing side, Almunajem Foods led the declines, shedding 9.20% to SAR 49.94, followed by Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co., which fell 6.18% to SAR 48.88, and Alamar Foods, which dropped 4.63% to SAR 44.06.

At the sector level, banks led the gains, advancing 1.60%, supported by a 2.06% rise in Bank AlJazira shares, which closed at SAR 10.89.


Tesla to Refund Many Cybertruck Deposits as Demand Exceeds Production, Musk Says

Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicles sit parked in a storage lot in San Diego, California on April 11, 2025. (AFP)
Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicles sit parked in a storage lot in San Diego, California on April 11, 2025. (AFP)
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Tesla to Refund Many Cybertruck Deposits as Demand Exceeds Production, Musk Says

Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicles sit parked in a storage lot in San Diego, California on April 11, 2025. (AFP)
Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicles sit parked in a storage lot in San Diego, California on April 11, 2025. (AFP)

Tesla will have to refund Cybertruck deposits for many customers as orders far exceed production capacity, CEO Elon Musk said, following last week's announcement that the electric vehicle maker is winding down the pickup truck's production at its Texas factory.

"We will try ‌to make ‌as many as ‌possible ⁠before shutting down the ⁠line in about 8 months, but will have to return deposits for a lot of people," the billionaire said in a post on X on Monday.

The comments ⁠come after Musk said ‌Tesla would ‌add an extra production shift to fulfill outstanding ‌Cybertruck orders before dismantling the production ‌line next year to expand output of its Cybercab robotaxi.

The production winddown is slated for mid-2027, Musk announced on ‌Friday, with the resources being redirected to the Cybercab, a vehicle ⁠central ⁠to the automaker's autonomous-driving ambitions.

Tesla began delivering the Cybertruck in late 2023, but demand has fallen far short of Musk's expectations. US sales fell 48% to 20,237 units last year, according to Kelley Blue Book, well below Musk's earlier projection that annual Cybertruck sales could reach 250,000 vehicles.


China Extends Suspension of New Rare Earth Controls Until January

A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
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China Extends Suspension of New Rare Earth Controls Until January

A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. (Reuters)

China on Monday announced a two-month extension of export-control waivers due to expire this month, preserving part of a wide-ranging deal struck after a summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.

China introduced export controls on certain rare earths ‌in April 2025, ‌only to expand ‌them ⁠further in October ⁠of that year, dramatically widening their scope and also adding new controls on certain diamonds with industrial applications and lithium battery technology.

The measures were then ⁠paused for one year last ‌November after ‌a summit in South Korea ‌between Xi and Trump.

The Ministry of ‌Commerce said in a short statement on Monday that the pause would be extended for two months ‌until January 10. It gave no other details.

The extension ⁠is ⁠part of a broader suspension of trade countermeasures and tariffs announced by China on Monday as it negotiates with Washington over an enduring trade deal.

Trump is set to travel to Shenzhen in southern China later this month for an APEC leaders summit, where he is expected to meet with Xi.