Stock markets across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region dropped by 1.8 percent in October. Kuwait was the poorest performing Arab market in October as it lost 6.0 percent bringing year to date losses to 5.6 percent. The Saudi Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) lost 53.49 points (0.85 percent) closing at 6,268.55 points in October over the close of the previous month, bringing its year to date gains to 30.5 percent. On Monday, meanwhile, TASI rose 0.27 percent on Monday to close on 6,272, led by the insurance sector, which climbed 1.84 percent. Anaam Holding was the day's big gainer, up 9.93 percent to SR74.75, followed by Al Ahlia Insurance, which gained 9.68 percent to SR102. Overall, 69 stocks rose while 40 fell. Corporate earnings performances remain weak as 40 of the top 70 companies reported a decline in their bottom line compared to the preceding quarter. However, on an YTD basis, TASI registered a positive return of 30.51 percent. Highest close level for the index during the month was on Oct. 24 at 6,568.47 points, Tadawul said on its website. Total equity market capitalization at the end of October 2009 reached SR1.218 trillion ($324.89 billion), or a fall of 0.99 percent over the previous month. Yet the total value of shares traded for the month of October 2009 reached SR113.93 billion ($30.38 billion), or an increase of 90.88 percent over the previous month. The total number of shares traded increased by 111.31 percent and reached 4.71 billion shares for the month compared to 2.23 billion shares traded during the previous month. The total number of transactions executed during October jumped by 57.95 percent and reached 2.77 million compared to 1.75 million trades in the preceding month. Moreover, the total amount of traded shares in the Saudi Stock Exchange In October was SR113.9 billion, Tadawul said, an increase of 90.88 percent from the previous month where the value of the traded shares was SR59.69 billion. The percentage share of Saudi nationals from the market trades was 91.6 percent for selling at SR104.4 billion and 89.5 percent for buying which at SR102 billion. The percentage share of Saudi companies from the market trades was 2.1 percent for selling at SR2.364 billion and 3.7 percent for buying at SR4.17 billion. The percentage share of investment funds from the market trades was 1.9 percent for selling at SR2.128 billion and 2.1 percent for buying at SR2.339 billion. The percentage share of GCC nationals from the market trades was 1.5 percent for selling at SR1.68 billion and 1.3 percent for buying which at SR1.527 billion. The percentage share of Arab residence in Saudi Arabia from the shares traded was 1.7 percent for selling at SR1.922 billion and 1.7 percent for buying at SR1.937 billion. The percentage share of foreign residents in Saudi Arabia from the traded shares was 0.3 percent for selling at SR331.4 million and 0.2 percent for buying at SR234.3 million. The percentage share of foreigners via swap agreement from the shares traded was 1 percent for selling at SR1.118 million and 1.6 percent for buying at SR1.77 million.
