Saudi Arabia stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Media & Publishing, Industrial Investment and Agriculture & Food sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Saudi Arabia, the Tadawul All Share added 0.21% to hit a new 6-months high.

The best performers of the session on the Tadawul All Share were Arabian Contracting Services Company CJSC (TADAWUL:4071), which rose 7.50% or 10.80 points to trade at 154.80 at the close. Meanwhile, Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication (TADAWUL:7040) added 5.63% or 4.40 points to end at 82.60 and Astra Industrial Group (TADAWUL:1212) was up 5.18% or 3.90 points to 79.20 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Leejam Sports Company SJSC (TADAWUL:1830), which fell 4.20% or 5.60 points to trade at 127.80 at the close. Arabian Internet and Communications Services Co CSJC (TADAWUL:7202) declined 3.45% or 12.00 points to end at 336.00 and Abdullah Al Othaim Markets Company (TADAWUL:4001) was down 3.20% or 0.46 points to 13.90.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange by 141 to 114 and 20 ended unchanged.

Shares in Arabian Contracting Services Company CJSC (TADAWUL:4071) rose to all time highs; rising 7.50% or 10.80 to 154.80. Shares in Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication (TADAWUL:7040) rose to 52-week highs; rising 5.63% or 4.40 to 82.60. Shares in Astra Industrial Group (TADAWUL:1212) rose to all time highs; gaining 5.18% or 3.90 to 79.20.

Crude oil for July delivery was down 0.52% or 0.38 to $72.15 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in August fell 0.40% or 0.31 to hit $76.64 a barrel, while the August Gold Futures contract rose 1.27% or 24.85 to trade at $1,983.25 a troy ounce.

EUR/SAR was up 0.66% to 4.04, while USD/SAR unchanged 0.00% to 3.75.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.59% at 103.44.