RIYADH: Saudi Arabia"s main index moved upwards early Wednesday morning after energy prices continued to decline steeply as risk-off sentiment took hold. Crude oil prices fell further with Brent crude hitting $104.71 per barrel and US WTI crude reaching $101.93 per barrel, at 10:18 a.m. Saudi time. The main index, TASI, gained 0.48 percent to 13,574, while the parallel market, Nomu, fell 0.11 percent to 23,069, as of 10:17 Saudi time The Scientists and Medical Equipment House Co. rose 3.52 percent to lead the advancers in early trading. AXA Cooperative Insurance Co. shed 4.46 percent, after profits dropped 44 percent to SR20 million (5.3 million) in the first quarter. Abdullah Al Othaim Markets Co. climbed 2.46 percent, after reporting a 58 percent surge in profits to SR91 million in the first quarter. Saudi Azm for Communication and Information Technology Co. was down 3.53 percent, after its profits fell 15 percent in the second half of 2021. Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco edged up 0.44 percent, following its announcement yesterday that it became the world’s most valuable company. In the financial sector, Alinma and The Saudi National Bank gained 1.35 percent and 1.54 percent, respectively, while Al Rajhi Bank fell 0.74 percent.