Riyadh, Dec 12 (AFP/APP): Saudi Aramco soared on Thursday above the $2 trillion valuation target sought by the kingdom’s de facto ruler as the energy giant’s share price surged on its second day of trading. The valuation milestone, which defies widespread skepticism from investors, was coveted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ever since he first floated the idea of listing the world’s biggest oil firm four years ago. Aramco shares jumped 9.7 percent to 38.60 riyals ($10.3) on Thursday morning — following a 10-percent rise the previous day — before paring some gains in the early afternoon. That boosted the oil giant’s market capitalisation to over $2 trillion, up from a $1.7 trillion valuation set during its initial public offering, the world’s biggest. Aramco shares on the kingdom’s Tadawul stock exchange, which closes at 1200 GMT, are allowed to fluctuate by a maximum of 10 percent each day. Tadawul witnessed one of its most hectic trading sessions on Thursday, with some 400 million Aramco shares — worth more than $4 billion — changing hands. Thursday is the last weekly trading day in Muslim Saudi Arabia. Trading resumes on Sunday. Aramco’s stock sale is the cornerstone of Prince Mohammed’s ambitious … Continue reading Saudi Aramco hits crown prince’s $2 trillion goal as shares soar