Saudi Arabian Equity Market Monthly Report May, 2005 - Index Year To Date Records 46% Growth - Over US$98.4 Billion Traded In May

The index for May closed at 12,019.68 points compared with 11,246.55 for April 2005, with an increase of 6.87 %; it reached its heights historical point as it hit 12,729.14 points on Sunday 22/5/2005, setting a new benchmark. Year to-date, the index increased by 46%.

Market capitalization by the end of May 2005 closed up at SR 1.74 trillion (US$ 464 billion) increasing by 7% compared with market capitalization for April 2005.

The total value of shares traded in May 2005 has reached a record of SR 369 billion (US$ 98.4 billion) compared with SR 306 billion from last April of 2005 gaining a plus of 21%.

Total number of shares traded in May, 2005 was 1.2 billion shares compared with 869.3 million shares traded in April 2005, increased by 42%.

Total transactions in May, 2005 has reached 4.2 million transactions compared with 2.44 transactions for April 2005, showing an increase of 73%.

New Listing:

Saudia Dairy & Foodstuff co. (SADAFCO) started trading with a paid up capital of SR 325 million and 6.5 million shares. Effective 23 May 2005.

Corporate Actions of the Month:

• National Industrialization Co. increased its paid up capital by issuing three bonus shares for every five shares raising its total shares to 31.4 million effective May 31, 2005.