Shares of Saudi Aramco hit their highest level since listing, at SR42.25 on Thursday. The stock closed 2% higher at SR41.35, with nearly 45.5 million shares traded with a value of SR1.9 billion, including several negotiated deals. Brent crude jumped above $100 a barrel on Thursday’s trading session for the first time since 2014, as Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine, amid concerns about the implications for energy exports in the region. Accordingly, Saudi Aramco’s market capitalization reached SR8.27 trillion ($2.21 trillion). Aramco was established in Saudi Arabia by a royal decree on Nov. 13, 1988. The company is fully-owned by the Saudi government with a paid-up capital of SR60 billion, divided into 200 billion ordinary shares without face value. The company was listed on the Saudi market in December 2019. Crown Prince MuhammAd bin Salman recently announced transferring 4% of the oil giant to the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Aramco’s primary objectives relates to all aspects of energy-related activities, including hydrocarbons, chemicals and other related and complementary industries, or any other activity within or outside Saudi Arabia. — SG