PIF ups its stake in Selfridges as it sells down Nintendo shares

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Pakistan expects USD 2 bn in agreements with Saudi today

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to a jam-packed Wednesday issue. We have not one, not two, but three M&A stories on the Public Investment Fund this morning, along with a couple of IPO updates and big news on a real estate fund from our friends at Cenomi.

WEATHER- In Riyadh, expect a warm day with a high of 35°C and a low of 21°C today. Jeddah’s mercury will also peak at 35°C before dropping to 27°C. Meanwhile, Makkah will be markedly hotter, with a high of 40°C and a low of 29°C.

PSAs-

Property owners in some areas of Riyadh, Al Muzahmiyya, and Diriyah can register their assets next month: The Real Estate General Authority is asking property owners in 22 neighborhoods in Riyadh, 25 in Al Muzahmiyya, and 11 in Diriyah to register their properties in the real estate registry between 10 November and 13 February 2025, according to a statement.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Pakistan is set to sign agreements worth around USD 2 bn with a Saudi delegation led by Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih, who is arriving in Islamabad today, Pakistani news outlets the Tribune reports, citing a statement from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This follows discussions held in April about a potential USD 5 bn investment package to support Pakistan’s economy. (**Editor’s note: We incorrectly reported the dates of the minister’s visit in yesterday’s issue. The story has been corrected on our web edition.)

#2- CMA OKs Alpha Capital’s equity fund offering on Nomu: Alpha Capital lined up approval from the Capital Market Authority for the public offering of its Alpha Capital Freestyle Nomu Fund, the authority said in a statement. No further information about the offering was provided.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Cargo handling at Saudi ports was up 7.8% y-o-y to 28.1 mn tons in September, according to figures released by the Ports Authority (Mawani). The number of export containers grew 9% y-o-y to 255.6k TEUs, while imported containers climbed 18% to 258k TEUs last month. Meanwhile, general cargo reached 975.k tons, solid bulk cargo totaled 4.47 mn tons, and liquid bulk cargo hit 15.3 mn tons. Transshipment containers dropped 43% to 159.5k, and total container volume dipped 8.1%.

#2- Saudi aquaculture production hit an all-time high of 140k tons in 2023, a 56.4% increase from the 90k tons recorded in 2021, the Environment, Water, and Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

SPORTS-

The Kingdom is set to take on Japan in Jeddah in a World Cup qualifier tomorrow, Reuters reports. Having racked up 12 goals in theri last two games, Hajime Moriyasu’s side sits comfortably atop Group C, while the Kingdom is currently in second place.

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

It’s a mixed bag in the foreign press this morning, as the intensification of the war in Gaza and Lebanon and Hurricane Milton in the US continue to grab headlines.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israeli airstrikes killed two successors to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a video on X, hours after Hezbollah seemed to drop demands for a ceasefire in Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement for Lebanon. Netanyahu did not name the successors, but the video suggests that Hashem Safieddin, who was widely expected to succeed Nasrallah and who was reportedly killed last week, has been eliminated. (Reuters)

Israel had expanded its ground invasion of Lebanon yesterday with a fourth division deployed in the south of the country, as it continued with intense airstrikes that killed at least 36 people over the past day. (The Guardian | BBC)

Over in the US, Hurricane Milton is now a Category 5 storm as it heads towards Florida, with President Joe Biden saying the “devastating” storm could be the worst to hit the state in more than a century.

AND- Politics continue to be in focus: The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Vice President and democratic candidate Kamala Harris leading Trump with 46% of votes, as opposed to Trump’s 43%.

IN THE BUSINESS PRESS- Samsung issued a rare apology yesterday after it warned of worse-than-expected 3Q earnings, adding that its high-end chips will see a delay in sales, and chalking up the decline in performance to one-off costs and higher supply of older products from Chinese rivals that have hit demand for its chips. (CNBC | Reuters | The Verge)

AND IN A SIGN OF THE TIMES- The Nobel prize for physics went to two researchers credited for laying the foundations for modern AI, US professor John Hopfield and British-Canadian professor Geoffrey Hinton. (The Guardian)

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The four-day Saudi Film Forum 2024 will kick off Wednesday, 9 October in Riyadh, featuring areas for agreement signings, consulting, studio simulation, film talks, cinematic arts, and a little filmmaker section for children.

The Saudi Winter festivities are back, continuing until the end of March 2025, with over 1k events spread across seven key destinations: Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, the Red Sea, Eastern Province, Madinah, and Hail. The events include Riyadh Season, the Dakar Rally, MDL Beast’s music festival, hiking trails, camps, and winter caravans, with special offers available through the Visit Saudi app (Google Play | App Store).

The three-day 6 Kings Slam event at Riyadh’s Venue kicks off on Wednesday, 16 October, featuring all-star players competing for the largest purse in tennis history. The matches will see face offs between tennis champs Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune (watch, runtime: 5:15). The final and third-place match will be held on Saturday, 19 October. Book your tickets here.

The Professional Fighters League’s (PFL) Battle of the Giants is coming to Riyadh on Saturday, 19 October. Headlining the card, MMA superstar Francis Ngannou will face PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira for the title of inaugural PFL Super Champion. Meanwhile, women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg will square off against Larissa Pachecho for the World Title Fight in the co-main event. Expect fireworks with additional matchups featuring Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards and A.J. McKee vs. Paul Hughes.

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will lock horns next Saturday, 12 October in the Four-Crown Showdown event. WBC, WBO, and IBF belt holder Beterbiev and WBA champion Bivol will put all their belts on the line, with the winner set to be crowned undisputed champion of the 175-pound division. The fight was originally slated for June, but was pushed back due to Beterbiev’s knee injury.

Cenomi Centers + GIB Capital line up SAR 1 bn Shariah-compliant real estate fund, tasked with developing U Walk Qassim and facilitating land sales

Cenomi Centers and GIB kick off SAR 1 bn real estate fund: Our friends at Cenomi Centers and Riyadh-based investment bank GIB Capital are launching a closed-ended Shariah-compliant real estate investment fund with an initial capital of SAR 1 bn, according to a press release (pdf). The fund will “facilitate” Cenomi’s land sale program, which comes as part of a bid to offload SAR 2 bn in non-core assets, the release said. The fund will also develop the U Walk Qassim mall, part of a larger 1 mn sqm mixed-use project in Buraidah, as well as develop and market surrounding lands for residential, office, and leisure use

Who’s doing what: Cenomi Centers will be the fund's sole unit holder of assets in-kind, while GIB Capital will manage the fund and handle the Qassim land sale while securing the necessary funds for the completion of U Walk Qassim mall.

Cenomi Centers is looking at some SAR 400 mn in costs to complete the U Walk Qassim mall, which is expected to bring in SAR 80 mn in annual revenue once it’s up and running, according to the press release. Construction at the site is set to restart this December and is slated for completion in 4Q 2026. Post launch, Cenomi Centers will manage and operate the 60k sqm gross leasable area venue that will host upwards of 135 retail outlets.

Cenomi Centers is on a buildout spree: U Walk Qassim represents the firm's third major ongoing construction project this year, alongside flagship projects Jawharat Riyadh and Jawharat Jeddah, putting the developer on track to hit 2 mn sqm of GLA by 2027, Cenomi Centers CEO Alison Rehill-Erguven said.

ALSO- Cenomi retail set a world record by opening 12 Subway branches across the Kingdom in a single day, it said in a separate press release (pdf). The branches are located in Riyadh and Dammam and include a mix of traditional and non-traditional venues and cloud kitchens. The new outlets are expected to generate an estimated SAR 13 bn per year and cover their investment cost in about 2.5 years. Cenomi Retail has opened 31 F&B outlets to date, and targets 50 by the end of 2024.

PIF mulls acquiring a USD 1 bn minority stake in London-based sports streaming platform Dazn

PIF wants to venture into sports streaming: The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly bidding to acquire a 10% stake in sports streaming platform Dazn valued at USD 1 bn, Reuters reports, citing two unnamed sources it says have knowledge of the matter. Negotiations between the PIF and Dazn have been ongoing since last year, without making any significant strides, one of the sources added.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)

Background: The London-based platform was in talks with unnamed advisors last December to kickstart the potential transaction, Reuters says. There’s at least two other funds actively vying for the minority stake, a third source told the newswire, adding that the platform is looking for an overall valuation of USD 10-12 bn.

What’s Dazn? Dazn is a broadcasting partner for Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s LaLiga, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1. Dazn subscribers also have access to American football, boxing, and baseball, among other sports. The platform acquired rights in September to broadcast the Six Kings Slam, featuring Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in Riyadh later this month. Dazn is owned by British-American businessman Len Blavatnik.

By the numbers: Dazn’s revenue grew 41% to USD 2.1 bn in 2022, white it incurred USD 1.1 bn in operating losses.

PIF acquires an additional 30% in UK department store chain Selfridges

PIF ups stake in Selfridges: The Public Investment Fund (PIF) inked a binding agreement to acquire an additional 30% stake in Selfridges Group, bringing its total ownership in the UK department store chain to 40%, Bloomberg reports, citing an emailed statement from the chain’s current majority shareholder Central Group. The fund already owns a 10% stake in Selfridges. No information was disclosed on the value of the transaction.

The details: The additional 30% stake will be acquired from now-insolvent Signa Group. The agreement will see PIF hold a 40% minority stake in both the property and operating arms of the business, while Thai retail conglomerate Central Group will retain the remaining 60%.

Background: Austrian-based Signa Group previously held a 50% stake in Selfridges, but is now going through insolvency proceedings. The fund had reportedly offered up to GBP 1 mn for an additional 40% stake in Selfridges from Signa in July, and was conducting due diligence on the potential transaction, following talks with Central Group.

About Selfridges: Selfridges Group is a collection of high-end department stores, known for offering luxury fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and home products across multiple locations in the UK and Europe. The group includes Selfridges in the UK, De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, and Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland.

PIF sells down Nintendo stakes

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has trimmed its stake in Japanese gaming giant Nintendo to 7.54% from 8.58%, offloading some 17.3 mn shares over the past few weeks, Bloomberg reports citing a Tuesday filing to the Japanese Finance Ministry. PIF remains one of Nintendo’s largest shareholders. CNBC also picked up the story.

This isn’t what we were expecting: The disclosure comes a few days after Vice Chair of PIF’s gaming unit Savvy Games Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud indicated that the sovereign wealth fund might up its stake in the Japanese game maker. The fund was also reportedly looking at stakes in other Japanese gaming companies to implement their know-how in developing a local gaming industry, Al Saud had said. It remains unclear whether PIF will later move ahead with an additional stake purchase in Nintendo.

Market reax: Nintendo’s shares closed down 0.6% yesterday, after closing 4.4% higher on Monday on the back of Al Saud’s hints at plans for an additional share purchase. Yesterday’s dip was “broadly in line” with the Nikkei 225 index, the business news information service said.

Tamkeen HR is taking a 30% stake to Tadawul’s main market in a secondary share sale

Homegrown labor agency Tamkeen HR is taking a 30% stake to Tadawul’s main market in a secondary share sale, it said in a prospectus (pdf). The company lined up Capital Market Authority approval for the move earlier this month.

Institutional investors will be able to subscribe to 100% of the offering, booking a maximum of around 1.3 mn shares and a minimum of 100k shares each. Meanwhile, retail investors may receive up to 20% of the shares on offer if there is sufficient demand. Each retail investor would be allowed to subscribe for a maximum of 250k shares, and a minimum of 10 shares.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)

Use of proceeds + lockup: Proceeds from the sale will be pocketed by selling shareholders on a pro-rata basis, after some SAR 25 mn are used to cover IPO-related expenses, according to the prospectus. The firm will not receive any of the offering’s proceeds. Substantial shareholders will not be able to sell down their positions for a period of six months starting from the first day of trading.

The timeline:

Institutional investors will be able to place their orders starting Sunday, 13 October until Thursday, 17 October;
The two-day retail subscription process is slated to start on Tuesday, 5 November;
The final allocation of shares will take place on Monday, 11 November;
Any excess subscription fees will be refunded by Wednesday, 13 November.

ADVISORS- Saudi Fransi Capital is quarterbacking the transaction as lead manager, financial advisor, book-runner and underwriter, with Stat Law Firm providing counsel to the issuer. Meanwhile PwC will act as financial due diligence advisor and Euromonitor International is stepping in as market study consultant, and Baker Tilly MKM as auditor. Receiving agents include Saudi Fransi Capital, Al Rajhi Bank, SNB Capital, Riyadh Capital, Albilad Investment, and others.

Arabian Mills shares inch down on Tadawul debut

Arabian Mills for Food Products’ shares dipped 0.3% on their first day of trading on Tadawul’s main market yesterday, closing at SAR 65.8 apiece, down from their debut price of SAR 66. The share price is allowed to trade within a ±30% band on the first three days during intraday trading. Starting from the fourth day of trading on the Tadawul, the band will be capped at no more than 10% up or down before circuit breakers kick in.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)

BACKGROUND- The company is offering a 30% stake on Tadawul’s main market in a secondary share sale. The institutional offering of Arabian Mills’ IPO sold out within hours of opening and was 132x oversubscribed, while the retail component was 9.2x oversubscribed.

ADVISORS- Our friends at HSBC Saudi Arabia were the sole financial advisor, global coordinator, bookrunner, underwriter, and lead manager on the transaction. Baker McKenzie provided counsel, PwC acted as financial due diligence advisor, EY was auditor, and Euromonitor International was market consultant. Meanwhile, Alrajhi Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank, and Banque Saudi Fransi acted as the receiving agents.

Al Rajhi raises record USD 1.9 bn in fresh financing

Tadawul-listed local lender Al Rajhi Bank has secured a USD 1.92 bn Shariah-compliant sustainability-linked syndicated loan, Bloomberg reports, citing a source familiar with the matter. The three-year facility, said to be the largest of its kind in the MENA region so far this year, is split into a USD 1.2 bn tranche, and a USD 705 mn tranche set to be used for the bank’s general corporate purposes.

Who’s in on the loan: The local lender is reportedly receiving the funding from a syndicate of over 20 regional and international banks, including our friends at HSBC Holdings, Emirates NBD, and Maybank Investment.

Al Rajhi has been on a financing roll: The leading Saudi bank raised USD 1 bn in additional tier 1 sustainable sukuk earlier in May, in a transaction that booked some USD 3.5 bn in orders from local and foreign investors. Al Rajhi tapped international debt markets for the first time this year in March, after it closed another USD 1 bn from its five-year USD-denominated sustainable sukuk offering with orders topping USD 2.8 bn.

IN CONTEXT- The financing agreement comes at a time when the Kingdom is grappling with a liquidity crunch, as loan growth outpaces deposits to support economic growth. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that local banks may need to issue around USD 10-15 bn in debt per year through to 2028 to support the government’s investment push.

AIIB provisionally agrees to extend wind farm financing for Acwa Power

Acwa power secures financing for Uzbek wind farms: Local renewables energy player Acwa Power inked a letter of intent (LOI) with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for a USD 150 mn (SAR 563 mn) line of credit to bankroll the Kongrad 1-2-3 wind power projects in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, according to a statement picked up by Argaam. The three-year financing agreement covers all three wind farms and is backed by an institutional guarantee from Acwa Power.

REMEMBER- These wind farms are part of a larger joint development agreement Acwa signed with Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation to develop 2.5 GW worth of renewable energy projects and nearly 1 GW worth of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Uzbekistan valued at USD 4.2 bn. Each wind farm has a 500 MW capacity along with 100 MW of BESS, with commercial operations set to begin in 2Q 2028. The agreement saw Acwa divest 49% of its stake in a group of Uzbek-based renewable energy projects to Sumitomo.

Acwa is doubling down on Uzbekistan: Aside from projects co-owned with Japan’s Sumitomo, Acwa has numerous other projects in its Uzbek green energy portfolio. The company is building a green hydrogen plant in Tashkent that will generate 3k tons of green hydrogen annually during its initial production phase, with a 52 MW wind farm to support the project. Acwa also signed three power purchase agreements totaling USD 2.5 bn in March with the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan and the country’s Investment, Industry, and Trade Ministry for 1.4 GW worth of solar projects and three BESS units totalling a capacity of 1.5 GWh, among other initiatives in the country.

Building code amendments + labor dispute measure extension approved at weekly cabinet meeting

Cabinet extends labor dispute measures + signs off on building code amendments: The Council of Ministers signed off during its weekly meeting yesterday — chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — on amendments to the Saudi Building Code and an extension of labor dispute resolution rules for an additional year, state news agency SPA reports.

#1- Cabinet agreed to extend by one year a process to amicably resolve labor disputes in the Kingdom. The mechanism, introduced in 2018, requires that labor disputes must go through the Human Resources and Social Development’s amicable settlement department before being escalated to the country’s courts. The department has a window of 21 days to reach an amicable settlement before the case can be submitted to labor courts.

#2- Saudi Building Code: The ministers also signed off on an amendment to the Kingdom’s Building Code mandating that an occupancy certificate is required to fully “activate” electricity amenities.

Also approved: An agreement with the World Bank for a multi-donor trust fund focused on digital development, as well as international partnerships with the likes of Zambia, Slovenia and Thailand.

Saudi Arabia attracted USD 509 mn in equity funding in 9M 2024 -Magnitt

Saudi Arabia maintained its position as the most funded country in MENA in 9M 2024, according to venture data platform Magnitt’s report. Saudi also remained the second most funded country — excluding debt funding — in emerging venture markets. The Kingdom attracted USD 509 mn in investments during the nine-month period, marking an 8% y-o-y decline in funding value. The report covers Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and Pakistan.

The Kingdom came in fourth place in terms of the number of investment transactions which totalled 104 transactions (7% y-o-y) in 9M 2024. Singapore was first, followed by the UAE and Turkey.

THE REGIONAL ANGLE-

Fintech maintained its position as the most funded sector with the highest number of transactions, drawing USD 1.8 bn in investments across the covered regions, though 20% less than last year. Ecommerce and retail followed at USD 640 mn (-70%), IT solutions at USD 454 mn (+52%), manufacturing at USD 304 mn (+37%), and transport and logistics at USD 262 mn (-79%).

Sanabil Investments is MENA’s most active investor contributing USD 59 mn, while Egypt’s Flat6Labs led by transaction count, closing 37 agreements.

MENA recorded the smallest contraction in the covered regions in 9M 2024, with total funding declining by 13% y-o-y to USD 1.3 bn, and transaction count dipping 6% y-o-y.

eXtra’s bottom increased 32.1% y-o-y for 3Q at SAR 156.2 mn, revenues up 10.4% at SAR 1.6 bn

United Electronics Company (eXtra) reported a 32.1% y-o-y increase in net income to SAR 156.2 mn in 3Q 2024, as un uptick in revenues offset increases in selling, distribution, and general and administrative expenses due to expansions, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. Revenues rose 10.4% during the period to SAR 1.6 bn, buoyed by national day and back to school promotions, a boost in online sales, and portfolio gains.

On a 9M basis: The company’s bottom line grew 34.9% y-o-y to SAR 356.7, with higher sales offsetting an increase in expenses and non-recurring losses due to a decision to scrap expansion programs in Egypt, as well as other one-off costs. Meanwhile, the firm’s top line increased 10% to 5.1 bn on the back of steady demand in the local market as well as a boost in consumer finance income.

KAFD Development & Management Company has a new interim CEO

King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company CEO Guatam Sashittal (LinkedIn) stepped down from his position, Zawya reports. PIF Investment Manager Mohammed Alsudairy (LinkedIn) was named interim CEO.

US Senator Lindsey Graham urges Saudi-Israeli normalization

A ticking clock on the Saudi-US defense pact? US Senator Lindsey Graham has called for Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalize relations — a condition of the US defense pact with the Kingdom — before year-end, cautioning that future US administrations may struggle to secure the necessary Senate support for such an agreement, according to Reuters. Graham met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, and plans to visit Saudi Arabia and the UAE to further discuss normalization.

REFRESHER- The agreement would see Washington provide security assurances to Riyadh, along with cooperation on the development of a domestic nuclear power industry, as well as on artificial intelligence and other technologies. Saudi has been adamant in its stance that there would be no normalization with Israel without a credible pathway to a Palestinian state.

Asas Al Mohileb to set up a SAR 700 mn concrete factory

MANUFACTURING-

#1- Asas Al Mohileb to set up a SAR 700 mn concrete factory to serve The Line: Construction firm Asas Al Mohileb agreed to build and operate a SAR 700 mn ready-mix green concrete factory at Neom that will serve the construction of the latter’s flagship sustainable city The Line, Neom said in a statement. The facility will have an estimated production capacity of 20k cubic meters per day. No details were given on the timeframe of the project.

#2- City Cement’s subsidiary to set up a JV for manufacturing eco-friendly cement replacement: City Cement ’s subsidiary Nizak Mining signed an agreement with Dubai- and London-based Next Generation SCM to establish a JV for manufacturing low-carbon cement alternative, City Cement said in a filing to Tadawul. SCM uses a patent technology from its owner, the Danish Company CemGreen, to manufacture the eco-friendly building material.

#3- Modon inks SAR 137 mn agreements to build production facilities in Dammam’s 2nd Industrial City: Modon signed six contracts worth SAR 137 mn with private sector companies to set up production facilities in Dammam’s Second Industrial City for gas pressure sensors, engine parts, valves, pipe-fitting, and food fortification, according to a post on X. The companies involved are Rotex, Sasib, TubeFit, Sustainable Innovations, United, and Miran.

REAL ESTATE-

Nomu-listed developer Ladun Investment is developing a SAR 827 mn mixed-use real estate project in Makkah, including a high-end 25-story tower, under a freshly-inked agreement with Mawten Real Estate, according to a filing to Tadawul. The project will feature 935 luxury serviced residential units, shops and commercial showrooms set to be sold off-plan.

M&A WATCH-

Sarco inches closer to acquiring Gesico: Oil refineries operator Saudi Arabian Refineries Company (Sarco) tapped undisclosed advisors for its potential acquisition of the German Saudi Industrial (Gesico) and Golden Compass Mining Services Company through a share-swap agreement, it said in disclosures to Tadawul here and here. The move prompted Sarco to extend the non-binding MoUs it had signed with both companies earlier this year for an additional three months.

HEALTHCARE-

Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group’s new maternity hospital in Riyadh’s Al Rahmaniyah will open its doors on Sunday, 13 October, after obtaining all the necessary licenses from the Health Ministry, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. The hospital will operate under the name Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Women's Health Hospital.

HOSPITALITY-

Hilton Riyadh Olaya has officially opened its doors, according to a press release. The hotel is located on King Fahd Road and features 239 rooms, suites, and residential apartments.

Faced with a lack of clarity on stimulus package, Chinese equity boom stumbles

China’s stock rally slows as investors await more details on stimulus plans: Chinese officials speaking at a press conference expected to unveil details of its planned stimulus package failed to deliver the bold measures investors had hoped for, throwing a wrench in the country’s equity rally, Reuters reports. The country’s markets had initially opened strong following the country’s Golden-Week Holiday, climbing to their highest levels in over two years. Policymakers had announced last month the largest stimulus package since the pandemic late last month in a bid to kickstart the economy.

By the index: The Shanghai Composite closed 4.6% higher, while blue-chip CS1300 gained 5.9% as both benchmarks rolled back some of the double-digit gains seen earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 9.4%, marking its worst single-day drop since 2008 after raking massive gains in recent weeks, the newswire said. The exchange’s mainland properties subindex (HSMPI) recorded its largest-ever single-day drop, closing down 15.5%. However, analysts suggest the drop is in great part due to traders closing out their weekly gains.

Spillover: China-linked assets also took hits on the back of Tuesday’s reset. Australia’s AUD, the CNY, and iron ore were all in the red, Reuters said. Mining stocks and European luxury stocks also fell.

Stimulus details fell far short of what was hoped for: Economic planner chairman Zheng Shanje’s announcement that some CNY 200 bn (USD 28.6 bn) were being reallocated from next year’s budget to support projects and municipal government fell far short of what market watchers expected, the newswire said. Analysts had forecasted a fiscal package to the tune of CNY 3 tn (USD 425 bn), Bloomberg reports. The stimulus package outlined so far has been heavy on monetary easing, but the fiscal measures investors are waiting for have so far failed to materialize.

What investors are going to be looking for: “Ultimately for the rally to be sustainable, we need to see more fiscal policy and more measures to support the economy and the property market,” Reuters cites managing director of investment strategy at OCBC in Singapore Vasu Menon as saying.

Next up: China’s Finance Ministry is expected to make an announcement in upcoming days that may outline the fiscal shot in the arm everyone is waiting for. Morgan Stanley and HSBC Holdings have penciled in some CNY 2 tn in fiscal measures, with Citigroup citing a larger CNY 3 tn forecast.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

It’s a mixed bag this morning, as Asian markets are just barely in the green in early trading, with Japan’s Nikkei leading the pack. Meanwhile, futures indicate US equity markets are on track to open in the red.

TASI	12,027	+1.0% (YTD: +0.5%)
MSCI Tadawul 30	1,509	+1.1% (YTD: -2.7%)
NomuC	24,543	-0.4% (YTD: +0.1%)
USD : SAR (SAMA)	USD 3.75 Sell	USD 3.75 Buy
Interest rates	5.5% repo	5.0% reverse repo
EGX30	30,852	-3.0% (YTD: +23.9%)
ADX	9,259	+1.2% (YTD: -3.3%)
DFM	4,429	+0.8% (YTD: +9.1%)
S&P 500	5,751	+1.0% (YTD: +20.6%)
FTSE 100	8,191	-1.4% (YTD: +5.9%)
Euro Stoxx 50	4,949	-0.4% (YTD: +9.5%)
Brent crude	USD 77.56	-4.2%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.73	-0.5%
Gold	USD 2,635	-1.2%
BTC	USD 62,364	-1.1% (YTD: +47.4%)

THE CLOSING BELL: TADAWUL-

The TASI rose 1.0% yesterday on turnover of SAR 8.2 bn. The index is up 0.5% YTD.

In the green: Al Majed Oud (+30.0%), Al Baha (+9.1%) and Cenomi Retail (+7.2%).

In the red: SFICO (-4.2%), First Mills (-3.7%) and Salama (-3.7%).

THE CLOSING BELL: NOMU-

The NomuC fell 0.4% yesterday on turnover of SAR 38.8 mn. The index is up 0.1% YTD.

In the green: Al Mohafaza for Education (+12.1%), NGDC (+9.6%) and Clean Life (+3.8%).

In the red: Leaf (-11.9%), iOud (-5.4%) and Naseej Tech (-5.0).

CALENDAR

OCTOBER

9-12 October (Wednesday-Saturday): Saudi Film Forum 2024, Riyadh.

12 October (Saturday): Riyadh Season.

12 October (Saturday): Shakur Stevenson x Joe Cordina, Riyadh.

12 October (Saturday): Beterbiev x Bivol in Four-Crown Showdown, The Kingdom Arena, Riyadh.

12-14 October (Saturday-Monday): Global Logistics Forum, Riyadh.

15-16 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Solar & Storage Live KSA, Riyadh.

16-17 October (Monday-Tuesday): Global Airport & Aviation Forum, Jeddah.

19 October (Saturday): Battle of the Giants, Mayadeen Hall, Riyadh.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Smart Ports & Logistics Transformation Summit, Riyadh.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Aussie Expo, King Abdullah Financial District Conference Center, Riyadh.

21-23 October (Monday-Wednesday): Global Health Exhibition 2024, Riyadh.

23-24 October (Wednesday-Thursday): UNIDO’s Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum (MIPF), Riyadh.

26 October (Saturday): Donor Conference to Support Refugees in Sahel and Lake Chad Regions, TBD.

27-28 (Sunday-Monday): The Global PropTech Summit, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, Riyadh.

29-31 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Investment Initiative Conference, Riyadh.

30 October-3 November (Wednesday-Sunday): Hia Hub 4.0, Riyadh.

31 October (Thursday): No-visa travel for Saudis to Montenegro on charter flights expires.

NOVEMBER

2-9 November (Saturday- Saturday): WTA Finals, Riyadh.

3-23 November (Sunday-Sunday): NEOM Beach Games, Neom.

4-7 November (Monday-Thursday): Saudi Build, Riyadh.

5-9 November (Tuesday-Saturday): Biban24 Forum, The Front Exhibition and Conference Center, Riyadh.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi Electricity Expo, Riyadh.

11-12 November (Monday-Tuesday): World Advanced Manufacturing Logistics Summit & Expo, Riyadh.

11-12 November (Monday-Tuesday): Saudi Airport Exhibition, Riyadh.

11-12 November (Monday-Tuesday): Expenditure Efficiency Forum, The Hilton, Riyadh.

11-14 November (Monday-Thursday): Cityscape Global, Riyadh.

16 November (Saturday): Latino Night at Riyadh Season, Riyadh.

18-20 November (Monday-Wednesday): The Heavy Equipment and Truck Show, Dammam.

19-20 November (Tuesday-Wednesday): The Women's Economic Forum 2024, Dammam.

19-21 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi International Maritime Forum, Dammam.

23 November (Saturday): Red Sea 600, Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina.

25-27 November (Monday-Wednesday): World Investment Conference, Riyadh.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Power Expo, Riyadh.

28 November-14 December (Thursday-Saturday): Noor Riyadh, Riyadh.

29 November-2 December 2024 (Sunday-Wednesday): World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship, Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina.

DECEMBER

1 December (Sunday): Opec+ to meet.

2-3 December (Monday-Tuesday) Wings of Change Middle East, Riyadh.

3-5 December (Tuesday-Thursday): The International Business Exchange – IBEX EVENTS, Riyadh.

11 December (Wednesday): Billboard Arabia Music Awards (BBAMAs), King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh.

2-13 December (Monday-Friday): Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Riyadh.

5-8 December (Thursday-Sunday): World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship, Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina.

11 December (Wednesday): FIFA Congress, which will decide the hosting countries for the FIFA World Cup 2030 and 2034

15-19 December (Sunday-Thursday): Internet Governance Forum, King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, Riyadh.

23-26 December (Monday-Thursday): Aqarat Expo, Riyadh.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2024:

The AFC Champions League Elite

2025

JANUARY 2025

14-16 January (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Minerals Forum, King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, Riyadh.

27-29 January (Monday-Wednesday): Real Estate Future Forum, Four Seasons Hotel, Riyadh.

28-29 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): Sustainability Forum Middle East, Riyadh.

29-30 January (Wednesday-Thursday): Global Labor Market Conference, Riyadh.

FEBRUARY 2025

4-5 February (Tuesday-Wednesday): The RLC Global Forum, Riyadh.

6-8 February (Thursday-Saturday): Liv Golf season opener, Riyadh Golf Club, Riyadh.

10-13 February (Monday-Thursday): Leap 2025, the Kingdom’s premier tech investment conference.

14-15 February (Friday-Saturday): Formula E, Diriyah.

JUNE 2025

26 June (Thursday): 2024-2025 academic year ends.

2026

UN Trade and Development Global Supply Chain Forum to take place in Saudi Arabia.

2027

The World Water Forum takes place in Riyadh.

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