Most Important News

1. Thimar Nets 17% Profit on Divestment
2. stc Board Recommends 26M Share Buyback
3. Tesla FSD Crosses US Zero Interventions

At the close of 31/12/2025, the Tadawul All Shares Index(TASI.SA) up by 1.05%. Parallel Market Capped Index (NomuC)(NOMUC.SA) increased by 1.11%. Among Saudi shares, Saudi Arabian Mining Co.(1211.SA) traded 0.25% higher and Al Rajhi Bank(1120.SA) gained 0.93%. Oil giant Saudi Arabian Oil Co.(2222.SA)  was up 0.89%.

The S&P 500 index(SPX.US) pulled back on Wednesday, though the index still closed out a bumper year.

The broad market S&P 500 dipped 0.74% and closed at 6,845.50, while the NASDAQ(IXIC.US) fell 0.76% and ended at 23,241.99. The Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJI.US) lost 303.77 points, or 0.63%, and settled at 48,063.29.

Stocks posted a four-session losing streak, although the declines were mild and the S&P 500 still locked in a 16.39% gain for the year, its third straight double-digit annual advance. The Nasdaq Composite rode AI enthusiasm to a 20.36% advance. The Dow advanced 12.97% in 2025, hindered a bit by its lack of tech representation.

Saudi Formalizes Four Economic Zones

Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has approved regulatory frameworks for four Special Economic Zones in Jazan, Ras Al-Khair, King Abdullah Economic City, and a Cloud Computing Zone to boost advanced manufacturing and logistics under Vision 2030. Alongside this major reform, the Kingdom authorized a new Hong Kong trade office in Riyadh and signed energy and healthcare agreements with Pakistan and Iraq, while Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih praised the leadership for enhancing the business environment and competitiveness of the Saudi national economy.

Saudi FDI Q3 Surges 34.5%

Saudi Arabia’s net FDI inflows reached SR24.9 billion in Q3, up 34.5 percent year-on-year and 5.2 percent quarter-on-quarter, with gross inflows at SR27.7 billion, 4.4 percent higher than 2024, while outflows dropped 65.7 percent to SR2.7 billion and annual 2024 inflows rose 24 percent to SR119 billion, surpassing the SR109 billion target as Saudi Arabia pursues Vision 2030 goals of SR140 billion in 2025 and SR388 billion by 2030.

KSA Stocks

Thimar Nets 17% Profit on Divestment

Thimar Development Holding Co.(4160.SA) has executed an agreement to divest its 22% stake in Yamama plus serviced apartments for SAR 8.9 million. The transaction yields a 17% profit over the original SAR 7.6 million investment made just eight months prior. Proceeds will support the company's approved financial regulation plan, with 50% of the sale value collected immediately and the remainder due within twenty days.

stc Board Recommends 26M Share Buyback

Saudi Telecom Co.(7010.SA) (stc) announced its board’s recommendation to repurchase 26 million ordinary shares, equivalent to 0.204% of total shares, to allocate them under the Employee Stock Incentive Plan. The buyback, financed through internal resources, awaits approval at the upcoming Extraordinary General Assembly. Purchased shares will carry no voting or dividend rights.

CATRION Expects Q2 2026 Revenue Impact

CATRION Catering Holding Co.(6004.SA) signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement to acquire a 55% stake in Al Khalejiah Catering Company for up to SAR 440.9 million, including SAR 315.2 million in cash and up to SAR 125.7 million in performance-based earn-outs through 2027. The deal, financed via internal funds and Shariah-compliant facilities, includes an option to buy an additional 15% within three years. CATRION expects consolidation benefits and positive financial impact by Q2 2026.

2P's SAR 115M Contact Expected to Boost 2026-2028 Revenue

Perfect Presentation for Commercial Services Co.(7204.SA) (2P) signed a SAR 115 million contract with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) to outsource and operate its contact center operations for 36 months. The project includes establishing omnichannel contact center facilities across Saudi Arabia with advanced technological infrastructure, cloud computing solutions, and qualified personnel management. The contract is expected to positively impact 2P's financial results across fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Alkhaleej Unit Wins SAR 16M Contract

Alkhaleej Training and Education Co.(4290.SA) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Advanced Communications Systems and Solutions Company (Smart Link), signed a SAR 15.98 million contract with the Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority to operate and manage its call center and digital channels. The 24-month deal begins immediately and is expected to positively affect Alkhaleej’s financial results in 2026 and 2027.

Bena Steel Plans Main Market Move

Bena Steel Industries Co.(9563.SA) announced its board resolution on 30 December 2025 to initiate transferring its listing from the parallel Nomu market to the main market, subject to regulatory and market approvals and fulfillment of all stipulated requirements, with further material updates to be disclosed upon occurrence.

USA Stocks

Tesla FSD Crosses US Zero Interventions

Tesla Motors, Inc.(TSLA.US) owner Davis Moss drove a Model 3 2732 miles from LA to South Carolina using FSD v14.2, with zero interventions across highways, cities, night driving, and Supercharger stops, marking the first supervised coast-to-coast trip as confirmed by Tesla's North America account. 

NVIDIA Corporation(NVDA.US)'s Jim Fan deemed it passed the "physical Turing test" for human-like caution in braking and lane changes, powered by TSLA's shift to end-to-end neural nets trained on nearly 70 billion FSD miles, including 25 billion in complex urban settings, though it remains "FSD Supervised" requiring driver attention.

Analysts Eye 26% Nike Upside

After a dismal year with NIKE, Inc. Class B(NKE.US) shares down 19% in 2025, CEO Elliott Hill added 16,400 shares worth $1 million for a 7% stake increase, while director Tim Cook surged his holdings 90% by buying 50,000 shares and Robert Swan grew his by 24% with 8,700 shares, sparking a 4% rally on Wednesday. Facing sales weakness and tariff pressures amid a three-year market cap halving, Nike pushes Hill's recovery plan as Wall Street rates it a "buy" with 26% upside potential per LSEG data.