Most Important News

1. US Considers Further Measures Amid Ongoing Tensions with Iran;
2. Anthropic Speeds Up IPO Plans, Could Beat OpenAI to Market;
3. SpaceX Falls for Fourth Day, Short Sellers Near $3.9 Billion in Profits;

At the close of 15/7/2026, the Tadawul All Shares Index(TASI.SA) decreased by 0.10%, closing at 10704.51 points; the Parallel Market Capped Index (NomuC)(NOMUC.SA) increased by 0.19%, closing at 22581.79 points.

As of Wednesday’s close, the S&P 500 index(SPX.US) increased by 0.38%, the NASDAQ(IXIC.US) rose by 0.62%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJI.US) increased by 0.29%.

US Considers Further Measures Amid Ongoing Tensions with Iran

The ongoing US-Iran conflict continues to threaten regional stability and global oil prices. To temper rising oil prices, the White House is reportedly considering extending the waiver on the “Jones Act,” which would allow foreign ships to transport goods between US ports with potentially tighter geographic restrictions. At the same time, US media report that President Trump is leaning towards expanding military actions against Iran, with options like strengthening airstrikes, deploying ground troops to capture key Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz, and targeting suspected nuclear sites. No final decisions have been made.

US June PPI Lower Than Expected, Easing Inflation Pressures

In June, US Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 5.5% year-on-year—below expectations of 6.2%—while falling 0.3% month-on-month, against a forecast of no change. Analysts note this weaker inflation indicator suggests that the impact of recent conflicts, such as the Iran war, is being contained to some extent. Falling energy prices have helped to ease inflation pressures, giving the Federal Reserve more flexibility to delay rate hikes. However, with Middle East tensions potentially rising again, this relief may be short-lived.

Fed Chair Waller: AI May Raise Prices, But Not Inflation—Fed Independence Unaffected by Trump

At his first Senate monetary policy hearing as Fed Chair, Waller emphasized the Fed’s decision-making independence and denied any Trump interference. He noted that while AI infrastructure is pushing up prices, this doesn’t necessarily mean higher inflation, and stressed the difference between AI-driven and supply shock price increases. Waller also said June’s CPI and PPI showed improvement but admitted no inflation gauge perfectly reflects underlying inflation. Whether AI-driven price hikes turn into sustained inflation depends on Fed policy, he added. Waller said he’s repeatedly affirmed his independence to Trump, who has never asked him to do anything improper.

Saudi Inflation Holds at 1.8% in June Despite Rising Rents

Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate stayed steady at 1.8% in June, driven mainly by a 4.4% increase in housing rents and higher personal care costs. Inflation has remained below 2% for most of the past year, well below the global average, highlighting the Kingdom’s relative price stability even as global energy prices rise.

KSA Stocks

BlackRock, Vanguard Raise Aramco Stakes as Profits Rebound

In early 2026, BlackRock and Vanguard boosted their Saudi Arabian Oil Co.(2222.SA) holdings by over 30 million shares, now worth around $3.2 billion, amid rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions. Q1 marked Aramco’s first profit growth in three years, with net income up 25.5%. Strong performance and supply resilience have renewed major institutional interest.

Ladun Investment Posts SAR 39.8M Q1 Loss as Revenue Falls 50%

Ladun Investment Co.(9535.SA) reported a net loss of SAR 39.77 million for Q1 2026, sharply wider than last year’s loss of SAR 5.57 million, mainly due to a 50% drop in revenue to SAR 163.3 million. The decline followed the completion of major real estate and industrial projects. Despite narrowing losses from the previous quarter, continued finance and admin costs kept results in the red. Loss per share was SAR -0.08, and shareholders’ equity fell 14% year-on-year.

ADES Secures $129M North Sea Drilling Contract

Ades Holding Co.(2382.SA) has won a $129 million contract with NEO NEXT+ Energy for offshore drilling in the UK North Sea using its Shelf Drilling Fortress rig. The deal covers two firm wells over at least 550 days, with options for two additional wells, and operations set to start in Q4 2026. This contract strengthens ADES’s long-term backlog and supports high fleet utilization.

Watani Iron Steel Seeks Main Market Upgrade

Watani Iron Steel Co(9513.SA) has submitted a request to transition to the Saudi main market, following board approval. This move marks a key step in the company's growth and advancement from its current listing.

USA Stocks

Anthropic Speeds Up IPO Plans, Could Beat OpenAI to Market

AI startup Anthropic is rapidly advancing its IPO process, aiming to go public as early as October this year. The company is planning a series of investor meetings in the coming weeks and is now valued at $96.5 billion, with Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan as underwriters. Strong revenue growth from its enterprise AI business supports the listing, though regulatory uncertainty remains a key risk factor.

Apple Hits New High as China iPhones Set to Launch "Apple AI"

Apple Inc.(AAPL.US) shares rose 4% to a record high amid news that its "Apple Intelligence" AI system has been officially registered for use on iPhones in China, with a launch expected soon. The new AI feature involves a partnership with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Sponsored ADR(BABA.US), following Apple's discussions with several Chinese companies. 

SpaceX Falls for Fourth Day, Short Sellers Near $3.9 Billion in Profits

SpaceX(SPCX.US) shares have dropped for four straight days, nearing their IPO price, as the company's latest rocket test and first post-IPO earnings report approach. On Wednesday, the stock slid another 0.6%, boosting gains for short sellers, whose paper profits have reached nearly $3.9 billion.