Saudi Arabia's main stock index posted gains on Sunday even as fresh drone activity threatened regional stability and raised concerns about security for workers and communities across the Gulf. The Tadawul All Share Index rose 83.75 points, or 0.76 percent, to close at 11,115.07, while regional markets showed mixed performance amid ongoing tensions that continue to affect millions of residents and economic stability.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index reached SR4.87 billion ($1.29 billion), with 135 stocks advancing and 119 retreating. The Kingdom's parallel market Nomu gained 9.09 points, or 0.04 percent, to close at 22,644.44, with 35 stocks advancing and 31 retreating. The MSCI Tadawul Index gained 13.59 points, or 0.92 percent, to close at 1,489.63.
Market Winners and Losers
The best-performing stock of the day was Elm Co., whose share price surged 5.40 percent to SR693.00. Other top performers included Middle East Paper Co., whose share price rose 5.33 percent to SR18.78, and CATRION Catering Holding Co., whose share price surged 5.03 percent to SR73.05. However, not all investors benefited equally from Sunday's trading. National Medical Care Co. recorded the steepest decline, falling 9.95 percent to SR104.10, a drop that could affect healthcare sector employment and investment. Saudi Arabian Amiantit Co. also saw its stock price fall 6.98 percent to SR14.26, and Advanced Building Industries Co. declined 6.64 percent to SR36.00.
Corporate Earnings Show Mixed Results
Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co. released its interim financial results for the three-month period ending March 31. According to a Tadawul statement, the firm recorded a net profit of SR34.15 million during the first three months of the year, up 65 percent from the same period last year. The rise in net profit was primarily linked to a significant improvement in gross profit resulting from a 10 percent increase in sales and an improved profit margin. Net profit was also supported by lower general and administrative expenses resulting from cost optimization and operational streamlining, alongside a decline in selling and distribution costs during the period. Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co. ended the session at SR60.30, down 1.15 percent.
Yanbu Cement Co. also announced its interim financial results for the first three months of 2026. A bourse filing revealed that the firm recorded a net profit of SR37.54 million during the first three months of the year, reflecting a 25 percent increase compared to the corresponding period a year earlier. This jump in net profit was mainly due to improved average selling prices, lower cost of revenues, and reduced selling and distribution expenses resulting from lower export volumes, as well as lower financing costs. Yanbu Cement Co. ended the session at SR15.00, up 4.94 percent.
Regional Markets Show Uneven Performance
In the wider Gulf, market performance reflected the uneven economic recovery and persistent security concerns affecting the region's workers and families. Qatar's QSI fell about 0.5 percent to 10,664, Egypt's EGX30 rose about 1.9 percent to 54,629, Bahrain's BAX declined about 0.4 percent to 1,934, Oman's MSX30 eased about 0.2 percent to 8,331, and Kuwait's BKP declined about 0.5 percent to 9,381. The mixed results across Gulf markets underscore how regional instability and drone activity continue to cast uncertainty over economic prospects for communities throughout the region.
Why This Matters:
The contrast between Saudi Arabia's market gains and the fresh drone activity threatening regional peace highlights the ongoing vulnerability of Gulf economies and the millions of workers who depend on them for their livelihoods. While corporate profits at firms like Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co. and Yanbu Cement Co. show resilience, the broader regional instability reflected in mixed market performance across neighboring countries raises questions about sustainable economic security for working families. The continued drone threats underscore the need for diplomatic solutions and regional cooperation to protect both economic stability and human security. Market volatility driven by security concerns can translate into job uncertainty, reduced investment in public services, and increased inequality as wealthier investors can weather instability while working-class families face greater economic precarity.