Saudi Arabia’s equity market closed modestly lower on Thursday, with the Tadawul All Share Index recording a decline of 0.14 per cent at the end of trade as investors contended with mixed sector performance and subdued year-end volumes.

Losses in key industries including Cement, Hotels & Tourism and Building & Construction contributed to the downturn, outweighing gains in selected smaller-cap stocks.

Among the day’s best performers were Saudi Industrial Export Co and Consolidated Grunenfelder Saady Holding Co, both posting double-digit percentage rises, as well as Raoom Trading Company, which made notable gains.

Conversely, Methanol Chemicals Company, flynas Company SJSC and Leejam Sports Company SJSC were among the more significant laggards, recording declines of nearly six per cent, over five per cent and around five per cent respectively.

Trading breadth was negative, with more than one hundred and fifty stocks closing lower compared with fewer than one hundred and fifty advancing issues, underscoring broad-based pressure across the market.

The session was marked by relatively light trading activity, a common feature of the holiday period as many international investors remain on the sidelines.

Crude oil prices, which continue to exert influence on the region’s markets, were slightly lower during the session, reflecting ongoing concerns about supply-demand balance as the global energy outlook shifts.

The modest retreat in oil futures added to the cautious sentiment among Gulf market investors.

Despite the dip in the benchmark index, market participants noted pockets of resilience, with several industrial and export-oriented firms outperforming amid sector-specific dynamics.

As the year draws to a close, traders anticipate that liquidity will remain thin, potentially keeping equity prices range-bound in the near term as investors await clearer signals on economic and commodity trends.