Riyadh, February 14, 2026, 14:52 (GMT+3) — Market closed.
- Saudi Aramco shares last traded at 26.00 riyals on Thursday, up 0.7%.
- Aramco signed a non-binding MoU with Microsoft on industrial AI and digital talent initiatives.
- Oil swung late-week as traders weighed OPEC+ supply plans ahead of a March 1 meeting.
Saudi Arabian Oil Co (Saudi Aramco) shares head into Sunday’s Saudi Exchange session after a late-week lift and a fresh technology headline. The stock was last at 26.00 riyals, up 0.7% on Thursday. (Reuters)
Tadawul, the Saudi Exchange, is shut on Friday and Saturday, leaving traders to price Sunday’s open off oil and geopolitics. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index advanced 0.8% on Thursday, Reuters reported. “Additionally, any reduction in the regional geopolitical tensions that have recently weighed on sentiment could further aid a recovery,” said Milad Azar, market analyst at XTB MENA. (Reuters)
Brent, the global crude benchmark, settled down 2.71% at $67.52 a barrel on Thursday, then edged up 0.3% on Friday to $67.75. U.S. WTI ended at $62.89; both benchmarks still posted weekly declines. (Reuters)
Supply is the question mark. OPEC+ — the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus allies including Russia — is leaning towards resuming production quota increases from April, with eight producers set to meet on March 1, three OPEC+ sources told Reuters. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, “Starting from around March and April, demand is gradually increasing. This will be an additional factor to ensure the balance.” (Reuters)
Aramco said on Thursday it signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding, or MoU — an early-stage pact with no spending commitment — with Microsoft to explore industrial AI initiatives and digital talent development. The companies plan to look at AI-driven industrial solutions built on Microsoft Azure, plus work on data residency and “digital sovereignty” controls for cloud deployments, Aramco said. “Aramco is driving the energy sector’s digital transformation by creating a secure, intelligent, and collaborative digital ecosystem,” executive vice president Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter said. (Aramco)
In market terms, the deal is long-dated. The Aramco share price still takes its cue from Brent day-to-day, and Sunday’s trade may come down to where crude opens after the weekend.
Fundamentals still dominate. Aramco’s profit fell to 278.6 billion riyals in the first nine months of 2025 from 307.1 billion a year earlier, Argaam reported. That backdrop is why investors are sensitive to any hint of softer oil demand or extra supply. (Argaam)
One timing wrinkle: the Saudi Exchange said it will close on Sunday, Feb. 22 for the Founding Day holiday, with trading resuming on Monday, Feb. 23. Short weeks can distort volumes and volatility, especially in index heavyweights. (Saudi Exchange)
The risk case is straightforward. If oil slips again on oversupply fears, or if geopolitical risk fades faster than traders expect, Aramco could give back this week’s gain and more.
Traders will watch oil at Sunday’s open, then the run-up to the March 1 OPEC+ meeting. For Aramco, the next hard catalyst is its FY2025 results due on March 10, according to the company’s financial calendar. (Aramco)
