Saudi Market Witnesses 7% Boom in 2019

An investor monitors a screen displaying stock information at the Saudi Stock Exchange in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
An investor monitors a screen displaying stock information at the Saudi Stock Exchange in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
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Saudi Market Witnesses 7% Boom in 2019

An investor monitors a screen displaying stock information at the Saudi Stock Exchange in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
An investor monitors a screen displaying stock information at the Saudi Stock Exchange in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

The Saudi stock exchange total gains in 2019 amounted to 7 percent, especially with the Aramco IPO and traders rushing to buy its shares.

The Saudi stock index closed at levels nearing 8,400 points at the end of 2019 trading, and managed during recent transactions to establish important technical support points, which is required for a positive performance of most of the shares of traded companies.

Aramco stock closed at $9.38, the level which the company's share managed to maintain since the listing was first completed. It also represents a 10 percent increase in the value of the stock since the listing.

The Saudi stock index ended its last session in 2019, with a 0.5 percent increase, to close at 8,389 points, amid trades totaling about $1.06 billion, bringing the gains of the Saudi market since the beginning of 2019 to about 563 points, or 7.19 percent, compared to the end of 2018.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) announced its board’s decision to force listed companies to continue to use the cost model to measure property and investment property in the financial statements prepared for financial periods within fiscal years, which start before 2022.

The Authority added in a statement Tuesday that the listed companies were allowed to use the fair value or revaluation model to measure property and investment properties for the financial periods of FY beginning in 2022 or after it.

The statement explained that any listed company that chooses to use the fair value model or the revaluation model to measure property, and investment property must comply receive the board of directors’ approval for the accounting policy to adopt the fair value model or the revaluation model based on the audit committee’s recommendation.

It also indicated that each property, or investment property shall be valued by at least two valuers when preparing the annual financial statements and when using the fair value model or the revaluation model for the first time.

CMA asserted that valuers must be appointed by a resolution from the board of directors based on the audit committee’s recommendation, adding that the appointed valuer must hold a fellowship designation with the Saudi Authority for Accredited Valuers.

“The audit committee shall monitor and oversee the valuation process and its results, and shall report to the board of directors any findings or issues,” read the statement.

In addition, the Authority stressed that any material gains or losses arising from a change in the fair value of investment properties shall be disclosed within the announcement of the interim and the annual financial results.

CMA noted that its decision is based on its role in regulating and monitoring the works and activities of parties subject to its monitoring, supervision, and role in regulating and monitoring the full disclosures of information regarding financial securities and their issuers.



Saudi Arabia, US Commit to Deeper Economic Ties with Energy, Industry Deals as Trump Visits Riyadh

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump speak during a meeting at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP)
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump speak during a meeting at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP)
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Saudi Arabia, US Commit to Deeper Economic Ties with Energy, Industry Deals as Trump Visits Riyadh

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump speak during a meeting at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP)
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump speak during a meeting at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP)

Saudi Arabia and the United States signed on Tuesday energy and industry agreements as President Donald Trump visited Riyadh where he was welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

“The United States and Saudi Arabia share a commitment to deeper economic integration, underscoring the Kingdom’s pledge of expanding cooperation in critical sectors such as health, energy, and science,” said White House in announcing the agreements.

The US Department of Energy and Saudi Ministry of Energy concluded an agreement for cooperation in the field of energy. “This agreement builds upon their strong existing relationship; it will focus collaboration on examining the potential for innovation, development, financing, and deployment of energy infrastructure,” said the statement.

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and US Department of Energy signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to collaborate on mining and mineral resources. “The agreement contributes to economic development and the diversification and resilience of critical mineral supply chains,” added the statement.

NASA and the Saudi Space Agency signed an agreement for a CubeSat to fly on NASA’s Artemis II test flight. Saudi Arabia’s CubeSat will measure aspects of space weather at a range of distances from Earth and deploy in high Earth orbit from a spacecraft adapter on the Space Launch System rocket after the Orion spacecraft is safely flying on its own with its crew of four astronauts.

The US and Saudi Arabia recently agreed to modernize the Air Transport Agreement to allow US airlines to carry cargo between Saudi Arabia and third countries without needing to stop in the United States, an important right for cargo hub operations. Saudi carriers will have the same rights to serve the United States.

Trump had arrived in the Kingdom earlier on Tuesday on his first overseas trip since his reelection. He will next visit the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Saudi Arabia and the United States also signed the largest defense sales agreement in history, worth nearly early $142 billion.