A package of incentives offered to Saudi companies to list on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) is likely to increase the number of initial public offerings (IPOs) next year, the CEO of Tadawul was quoted as saying in a media report.

Meanwhile, the launch of stock index futures should bring an influx of money from overseas, added Khalid Al-Hussan, reported Arab News, citing Reuters.

“The application pipeline of new listings, both in Nomu and the main market today, is very healthy,” Al-Hussan told Reuters.

He was speaking as the Tadawul announced the signing of an agreement with global index provider MSCI to jointly launch a tradable index later this year.

“The joint tradable index will be available in the fourth quarter of 2018,” Al-Hussan told reporters.

“The establishment of this index provides a platform for the development of futures traded and other traded products, in the financial market,” he added.