RIYADH: The Saudi main index ended on a positive note, following the disclosure by the Saudi Exchange that its market capitalization at the end of the first nine months of the year jumped 8 percent, boosting investors’ optimism.

Saudi Exchange reported that its market capitalization reached SR10.8 trillion ($2.8 trillion) at the end of September, compared to a year earlier.

This comes despite the total value of shares traded during the first nine months falling by 21.5 percent from the previous year to SR1.4 trillion, while the total volume traded decreased by 37 to reach SR35.35 billion, the latest Saudi Exchange data revealed.

Tadawul All Share Index closed at 11,405 points at the end of the first nine months of 2022, down 90.44 points or 0.79 percent from last year’s close.

During Monday’s closing session, the Tadawul All Share Index ended 1.05 percent higher to reach 11,607, while the parallel market Nomu edged 0.68 percent higher at the end of the session to finish at 20,074.

Saudi oil giant Aramco ended the session flat, while Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. finished 2.73 percent higher.

The Saudi National Bank, the Kingdom’s largest lender, added 1.28 percent, while Saudi British Bank increased by 0.75 percent.

The Kingdom’s most valued bank Al Rajhi gained 0.61 percent, while Alinma Bank gained 2.71 percent.

Mouwasat Medical Services Co. gained 1.58 percent, after completing the acquisition of 51 percent of Jeddah Doctors Co. in a SR102 million deal.

Najran Cement Co. grew 2.52 percent, after announcing it will distribute cash dividends of SR0.25 per share to shareholders in the first half of 2022.

Leejam Sports Co. added 1.16 percent, following the opening of a new Ladies Xpress Fitness Center in Riyadh on Oct. 2, bringing the total number of its centers inside and outside the Kingdom to 154.

During the first nine months of the year, the highest close level for the index was 13,820.35 points on May 8.

The total number of transactions executed decreased by 4.25 percent during the same period and reached SR68 million compared to 2021.

The number of trading days during the third quarter of 2022 was 184, compared with 185 during the first nine months of 2021.