Saudi Arabia's stock market experienced a sharp decline as trading commenced, with the main index plummeting by over 4.5% to reach 10,280 points.
The downturn was widespread across all sectors, led by significant losses in blue-chip stocks. Trading volume reached 500 million riyals in the early hours.
The banking sector faced intense selling pressure, with losses exceeding 4%. This made it the most significant factor weighing down the overall index.
Leading companies such as Saudi Aramco, Al Rajhi Bank, and the National Bank of Saudi Arabia were among the most influential stocks contributing to the index's decline during the initial hours of trading.