Saudi Arabia's largest listed bank Al-Rajhi Banking and Investment Corp. reported yesterday a 46.9 percent rise in net profit to SR2.14 billion ($570.7 million) in the first nine months of this year. It said operating income stood at SR3.7 billion, without giving a comparative figure. Total assets rose to SR73 billion from SR69 billion in June. Shareholders' equity stood at SR9.4 billion compared to SR7.25 billion at the end of 2003. Al-Rajhi has a market capitalization of over SR69 billion, or 7.8 percent of the total Saudi bourse. Al-Rajhi stock ended yesterday's morning trading session up 0.39 percent at SR1,541, before the results were announced, bucking the trend on a broadly weaker market.
