RIYADH, Sept 11 (Arab News): Saudi Arabia's main index gained ground in the first session of the week following a rise in oil prices on Friday.
TASI gained 1.01 per cent to reach 11,953, while the parallel market Nomu started 0.26 per cent higher at 20,490, as of 10:07 a.m. Saudi time.
Saudi oil giant Aramco climbed 1.23 per cent, while Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. increased 0.76 per cent.
Al Rajhi, the Kingdom's largest valued bank, edged up 1.05 per cent, while Alinma Bank advanced 1.64 per cent.
The Saudi National Bank, the country's biggest lender, gained 1.21 per cent, while Saudi Arabian Mining Co., known as Ma'aden, increased 2.02 per cent.
Saudi Marketing Co. gained 5.06 per cent to lead the gainers early in trading, while Riyad REIT Fund edged down 1.4 per cent to lead the fallers.
Abdulmohsen Alhokair Group for Tourism and Development edged up 4.78 per cent, as it entered negotiations with its unit to acquire hotels currently leased by the group.
Among cement firms, City Cement Co., Northern Region Cement Co., and Al Jouf Cement Co. gained 4.44 per cent, 3.83 per cent, and 3.27 per cent, respectively.
In energy trading, Brent crude futures closed Friday higher at $92.84 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate traded at $86.79 a barrel.
