Index row hits Saudi stock exchange

Sluggish trading during Ramadan has been enlivened by a spat between MSCI Barra, an index supplier, and Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul stock exchange.

At issue is a demand that Tadawul allow the index provider unimpeded access to the data it collates and how MSCI sells that data on to end-users such as fund managers.

Tadawul is demanding payment for that information and says it has signed agreements with other index providers, such as Standard & Poor’s, to provide alternative indices. MSCI has said it may be forced to discontinue its indices containing Saudi securities.