Most Important News

1. US-Canada Talks Collapse, Triggering 50% Tariffs;
2. ACWA Power Signs 15-Year Saudi Battery Storage Deals;
3. Sport Clubs Signs SAR116.6 Million Riyadh Lease;
4. Tesla Sets Sept. 3 Cybercab Launch in Austin;

At the close of 20/08/2026, the Tadawul All Shares Index(TASI.SA) rose by 0.26%, closing at 10954.46 points; the Parallel Market Capped Index (NomuC)(NOMUC.SA) dropped by 0.01%, closing at 21571.86 points.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJI.US) climbed 0.98% Friday, its largest one-day gain since May, while the S&P 500 index(SPX.US) and NASDAQ(IXIC.US) each added 0.43%. Health care led with a 1.6% rise, followed by financials at 1.0%. Microsoft Corporation(MSFT.US) and Alphabet Inc. Class A(GOOGL.US) gained about 1% each, while Amazon.com, Inc.(AMZN.US) slipped 0.3% and NVIDIA Corporation(NVDA.US) fell 0.97%. The 10- and 30-year Treasury yields held at 4.74% and 5.27%.

US-Canada Talks Collapse, Triggering 50% Tariffs

US tariffs of 50% on selected Canadian goods took effect Saturday after trade talks collapsed. Canada announced matching retaliation. Washington said Ottawa abandoned agreed terms, while Prime Minister Mark Carney blamed unacceptable last-minute US changes. The duties cover wine, dairy, cement, clothing and hockey equipment, adding to existing levies on steel, aluminum, autos and lumber.

Oil Rises, Extending Weekly Gains

Oil settled higher Friday amid uncertainty over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and escalating US-Iran threats. October Brent rose 0.65% to US$94.39 a barrel, gaining 6.63% weekly. October WTI added 0.26% to US$87.06, up 5.65% for the week. Supply concerns also intensified after Ukraine struck a Russian refinery in Perm.

Budget Saudi Expects Rental Demand to Improve in Q3

Budget Saudi CEO Fawaz Danish said Q3 2026 demand and operations should improve from Q2, supported by domestic tourism, recovering inbound travel and renewed long-term rental orders. Excluding SAR25 million in one-off income, Q2 net profit reached about SAR68 million. Short-term fleet utilization rose to 65%-66% at the start of Q3.

KSA Stocks

ACWA Power Signs 15-Year Saudi Battery Storage Deals

ACWA POWER Co.(2082.SA) said it signed three storage-services agreements with Saudi Power Procurement Company for projects in Hail and Makkah. Each facility will provide 500 MW of generation capacity and 2,000 MWh of storage capacity. The company will hold 34.9% of each project at financial close. Contract values and financial effects will be disclosed when financing closes.

SARCO Unit Wins Yanbu Housing Subcontract

Saudi Arabia Refineries Co.(2030.SA) said Lawazim Industrial, 85%-owned by its subsidiary Masafi Ventures, secured a SAR12.87 million subcontract from Saudi Binladin Group. The 12-month contract covers the supply and installation of wooden doors for the National Guard Housing Project in Yanbu. The financial impact will begin in Q4 2026.

Sport Clubs Signs SAR116.6 Million Riyadh Lease

Sport Clubs Co.(6018.SA) signed a 20-year lease for a 5,200-square-meter commercial building in Riyadh, where it will develop a Body Masters Premium men’s sports center and leasable spaces. The lease runs from June 2027 through May 2047. The project raises the company’s development pipeline to 15 locations.

SVCP Seeks CMA Approval for Capital Reduction

Saudi Vitrified Clay Pipes Co.(2360.SA) applied for regulatory approval to cut its capital from SAR150 million to SAR45.43 million after accumulated losses increased in H1 2026. The reduction, revised from an earlier target of SAR64.72 million, also requires approval from the company’s extraordinary general assembly.

USA Stocks

Nvidia AI Server Prices Set to Rise Over 15%

Suppliers have warned Microsoft Corporation(MSFT.US), Alphabet Inc. Class A(GOOGL.US) and Oracle Corporation(ORCL.US) that most NVIDIA Corporation(NVDA.US)-powered AI servers will cost over 15% more starting with early next-year shipments, Bloomberg reported. Systems using Vera Rubin and Grace Blackwell chips are affected, with increases varying by memory configuration. Surging DRAM costs are driving the price hikes and raising data-center construction expenses.

Tesla Sets Sept. 3 Cybercab Launch in Austin

Tesla Motors, Inc.(TSLA.US) will unveil its steering wheel- and pedal-free Cybercab in Austin on Sept. 3. The autonomous vehicle is expected to join the city’s Robotaxi fleet, currently comprising 186 modified Model Ys. Employee rides may precede public access, though commercial approval remains unclear. Production began last month, but large-scale output is not expected this year.

Trump Discloses Over 1,000 June Securities Trades

President Donald Trump made over 1,000 securities trades in June worth an estimated US$78.1 million to US$263.1 million, a federal disclosure showed. Transactions included Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B(BRK.B.US), Visa(V.US), Mastercard(MA.US), Cintas Corporation(CTAS.US), Palantir(PLTR.US), Meta Platforms(META.US), and Coinbase(COIN.US). The White House said independent managers oversee Trump’s investments, preventing conflicts of interest.

Today