Most Important News

1. Progress in US-Iran Talks Amid Oil Market Volatility;
2. GPT-5.6 Launch Expected This Week: From "Model" to "Executable Agent";
3. Al Rajhi Takaful Approves 100% Capital Hike via Bonus Issue;
4. KHC Board Declares 2.7% Cash Dividend for H1 2026;

At the close of 21/06/2026, the Tadawul All Shares Index(TASI.SA) dropped by 0.4%, closing at 11076.67 points; the Parallel Market Capped Index (NomuC)(NOMUC.SA) dropped by 0.11%, closing at 23202.13 points. 

The three major US indices ended higher, with NASDAQ(IXIC.US) up 1.91%, S&P 500 index(SPX.US) rising 1.09%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJI.US) gaining 0.14%. PHLX Semiconductor(SOX.US) soared 6.42%, driven by strong gains in semiconductor stocks: Sandisk Corporation(SNDK.US) jumped over 11%, Intel Corporation(INTC.US) rose 10%, Micron Technology, Inc.(MU.US) climbed 8%, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR(TSM.US) and QUALCOMM Incorporated(QCOM.US) gained over 6%. Meanwhile, SpaceX(SPCX.US) fell 3.57%, briefly plunging 10% during the session.

Progress in US-Iran Talks Amid Oil Market Volatility

The US-Iran high-level talks concluded in Switzerland, with agreements to establish a committee for political oversight and a conflict resolution group involving Lebanon. A US diplomat reported progress on the Hormuz Strait navigation issue, while Iran's Foreign Minister highlighted significant advancements in ending the Lebanon conflict. Meanwhile, oil prices briefly surged after threats from Washington about potential strikes on Iran if Hezbollah attacks on Israel persist.

Saudi Holdings of US T-Bonds Drop $9.5B to $140.1B in April

Saudi Arabia's US Treasury holdings fell to $140.1 billion in April 2026, down $9.5 billion from the previous month, according to the US Department of the Treasury. The Kingdom retained its 17th position among the largest US debt holders. The decline was mainly due to a $9.2 billion reduction in short-term Treasury holdings, which now account for 24% of the total. Long-term bonds slightly decreased to $106.7 billion, making up 76% of the holdings. Japan remains the largest holder at $1.209 trillion.

GPT-5.6 Launch Expected This Week: From "Model" to "Executable Agent"

The upcoming GPT-5.6, featuring mini, standard, and Pro versions, expands its context window to 1.5 million tokens and introduces capabilities like visual replication, SVG 3D generation, and browser automation. Priced at about one-third of Claude's token cost, OpenAI describes it as a "meaningful improvement" over GPT-5.5. However, Reddit users suggest it's a minor update, with significant advancements anticipated in GPT-6.

KSA Stocks

Al Rajhi Takaful Approves 100% Capital Hike via Bonus Issue

Al-Rajhi Company for Cooperative Insurance(8230.SA)'s extraordinary general meeting approved a 100% capital increase through a one-for-one bonus issue. The capital will rise from SAR 1 billion to SAR 2 billion by capitalizing SAR 1 billion from retained earnings. The record date is June 21, 2026. This move, approved by the Capital Market Authority, aims to bolster the company's strategic and expansion plans.

Sumou Real Estate Secures Off-Plan Sales License for Makkah Project

Sumou Real Estate Co.(4323.SA) received an off-plan sales license for the Al Dhahiya Residence project in Makkah on June 21, under License No. 1063. The project includes the construction of 149 villas in collaboration with Al Dhahiya Real Estate Development and Investment Co. In April, Sumou signed an agreement to oversee the superstructure development, advancing its role in the project.

Sport Clubs Co. Expands with Two New Openings in Buraydah

Sport Clubs Co.(6018.SA) has launched two new clubs in Buraydah, Al Qassim, under the brands "Body Masters Premium" for men and "Body Motions" for women. The clubs cover a total area of 8,000 sqm, with 142 parking spaces, and feature modern amenities. This expansion increases the company's total operating clubs to 63 across Saudi Arabia. The financial impact is expected to be reflected in Q2 2026 results. 

KHC Board Declares 2.7% Cash Dividend for H1 2026

Kingdom Holding Co.(4280.SA) has declared an interim cash dividend of SAR 1,000,588,221 for the first half of 2026. Shareholders will receive SAR 0.27 per share, equating to 2.7% of the share's par value. The eligibility date is June 24, 2026, with distribution set for July 9, 2026. This interim dividend is in addition to the annual cash dividend of SAR 0.28 per share for 2025, which will be distributed quarterly throughout 2026. Shareholders are advised to update their banking details for direct deposits

Anaam Holding Plans 51% Acquisition of Masar Al-Ola

Anaam International Holding Group(4061.SA) signed an MoU to acquire a 51% stake in Masar Al-Ola Trading Co., the owner of the Hashikom chain. The deal's value will be based on an independent valuation, with shares issued to Masar Al-Ola shareholders. The MoU is valid for 180 days, pending due diligence. 

Multi Business Reports Contract Termination with Leejam Sports

Multi Business Group Co.(9619.SA) announced that it had received a termination notice from Leejam Sports Co.(1830.SA) regarding its contract for a sports club in the King Abdullah Financial District. The cancellation is due to design approval issues. Multi Business is reviewing the notice, reserving its rights, and will update on developments. No material costs have been reported yet, and the financial impact remains uncertain.

USA Stocks

SpaceX Plans US$20 Billion Bond Issuance Post-IPO

SpaceX(SPCX.US) is preparing to issue at least US$20 billion in investment-grade bonds to replace a bridge loan maturing in September 2027, sources revealed. The company’s banking partners, including Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley, will lead the issuance. Investor calls may begin as early as Monday. The loan accounts for most of SpaceX’s US$29.1 billion long-term debt as of March 31.

Amazon in Talks to Sell AI Chips Rivaling NVIDIA

Amazon.com, Inc.(AMZN.US) is negotiating to sell its custom AI chips for use in other companies' data centers, aiming to challenge NVIDIA's dominance. The head of Amazon's AI business mentioned ongoing discussions with potential clients, though specific names were not disclosed. The third-generation AI accelerator, Trainium, is nearly sold out, and the upcoming fourth generation has already garnered significant interest.