-- Saudi Exchange-traded shares closed lower as the renewed geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran pushed the Tadawul All Share Index to 0.91% in the red on Monday.
A US warship was reportedly struck by missiles at the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported, citing Iran's semi-official Fars news agency. The attacks came after US President Donald Trump disclosed a plan to support stuck vessels in the strait.
However, an undisclosed senior official from the US denied reports about the vessel being attacked, Axios reported. Citing the same official, the US will reportedly conduct military action against the Middle nation if it does not submit an "achievable" peace deal.
Back at home, Eastern Province Cement (SASE:3080) ended the session 4.98% higher as SNB Capital had an overweight rating on its stock with a price target of 29 Saudi riyals after it released its first quarter results on Sunday.
"Eastern Cement reported a better than expected set of Q1 26 results with a net income increasing by 16.1% yoy (+75.6% qoq) to SAR72.0mn. This is higher than the SNB Capital and consensus estimates of SAR48.6mn and SAR41.5mn, respectively. We believe the variance in net income was driven by 1) higher than expected revenues which increased by 18.4% yoy (flat qoq) to SAR354mn vs our estimates of SAR320mn mainly due to higher blended average selling prices and 2) lower than expected opex which stood at SAR19.0mn (-5.1% yoy, -9.5% qoq) vs our estimate of SAR22.2mn," SNB Capital said in a note.
Meanwhile, Saudi Investment Bank (SASE:1030) concluded its Tier 1 capital sukuk offering worth 1.85 billion Saudi riyals. The offer issued 1,850 sukuk with a par value of 1 million riyals each. Shares of the lender closed 1.19% lower.