Tadawul Equities Plunge on Wednesday Amid Continued Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

MT Newswires · 2d ago
08:32 AM EDT, 10/14/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The Tadawul All Share Index plunged 1.74% at the close of Wednesday's trading session, as the escalating tensions involving the Houthi group dampened investor sentiment on Wednesday. Making headlines are the Houthi group's continued attacks on Saudi Arabia. The Iran-aligned group has struck the administrative building and a refinery of state-owned oil giant Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (SASE:2222), d/b/a Saudi Aramco, and the King Khalid International Airport. Aramco shares closed 1.55% in the red. Also affecting sentiment are Iran's reported plans of changing its offensive strategy for the Strait of Hormuz. The move reportedly aims to influence oil prices and US elections. "Oil prices climbed on Wednesday after two vessels were struck in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian officials told Reuters they were deploying new tactics to target ships, as Tehran seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections. Brent crude futures rose 63 cents, or 0.6%, to $106.32 a barrel by 0345 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 66 cents, or 0.7%, to $94.80 a barrel. Both contracts rose more than $1 in earlier trade before paring some gains," United Securities LLC said in a morning note. Back at home, Anmat Technology for Trading Co. (SASE:9639) secured Shariah-compliant credit facilities worth 40 million Saudi riyals for its working capital needs and other purposes. The information and communications technology company's shares tumbled 2.11%. Meanwhile, MSGA Investment (SASE:9655) signed an agreement with the Development Housing Foundation to sell residential units in the MSGA 30 Project in Riyadh. Shares of the real estate development company closed flat.