Saudi Arabian stocks edged up 0.5 percent in the week to Thursday after Arab National Bank posted higher annual profit, while agriculture firms climbed for a third consecutive week on a state decision to boost wheat output.
The largest Arab bourse's all-share index closed at 4,538.72 points, up from 4,516.53 a week ago. It gained 77 percent in 2003 on firm oil prices and healthy company earnings.
Turnover eased to 16.7 billion riyals ($4.5 billion) from 25.2 billion riyals in the previous week.
Saudi Electricity Co dominated trading with 18.7 percent of total turnover. It ended just 0.5 percent higher at 105.75 riyals after posting 38 percent higher net profits of 1.487 billion riyals in 2003.
Arab National Bank gained 1.3 percent to 397.75 riyals after posting a 31 percent gain in annual net profit to 767 million riyals.
Qassim Agricultural rose 15 percent to 78 riyals. It was the biggest climber in the sector, though it accounted for just 0.5 percent of total market capitalisation.
In the week, 34 shares advanced, 34 declined and the remaining two stocks were unchanged.
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