Saudi stock benchmark Tadawul All Share Index slumped Tuesday, closing 0.17 percent lower at 7,545.28 points, as the petrochems sector dipped amid investors booking gains for Q1 of 2012. Heavyweight Al Rajhi Bank added 0.6 percent; and Alinma Bank rose 1 percent. The bank index climbed 0.2 percent. Cement stocks also climbed, with Yamamah Cement and Saudi Cement up 0.5 and 0.3 percent, respectively. Banks and petrochemical stocks are the main drag. Samba Financial Group and Banque Saudi Fransi fell 1.5 and 0.8 percent, respectively. Elsewhere in Dubai, the main index slumped 0.5 percent to close 1,624 points, trimming 2012 gains to 20 percent, amid a lack of market-moving news. Emirati capital Abu Dhabi's benchmark ended little higher, gaining 0.4 percent or 0.96 points to close at 2,505 points. Oman's index slipped 0.6 percent to 5,833 points, while Kuwait's benchmark rises 0.1 percent to 6,376 points, and the Qatari index dropped 0.4 percent to close at to 8,672 points, ending lower for a first session in four, as Barwa Real Estate weighed in on the index. Egypt and Bahrain markets were closed Tuesday, for the Labor Day holiday.
