RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s main index started the week higher on the back of strong earnings reports, led by oil giant Aramco reports, which lifted investor sentiment. TASI edged 0.17 percent higher at 12,552, while the parallel market, Nomu, started flat at 22,020, as of 10:07 a.m. Saudi time. The Kingdom’s oil giant Saudi Aramco started the day with a 0.49 percent increase, after it announced a record second-quarter profit of $48.4 billion. Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. gained 3.53 percent, following the announcement last week that its first-half profits jumped 54 percent to SR2.1 billion. Saudi Tadawul Group Holding Co. declined 1.93 percent, after its first-half profits declined 23 percent to SR278 million. National Agricultural Development Co. increased 1.73 percent, after it turned into profits of SR43 million during the first half of 2022. Saudi Chemical Co. declined 1.3 percent, after reporting a 32 percent drop in first-half profits to SR47 million. National Medical Care Co. added 5.64 percent to lead the gainers, while Arab Sea Information System Co. edged down 4.42 percent to lead the fallers.