Around 4.9 million Saudi retail investors have bought shares in the oil giant.

Saudi banks have been offering citizens easy loans to bid for shares in Aramco.

Bankers have told the Saudi government that investors will likely value the company at around USD 1.5 trillion.

Aramco was expected to launch the first part of a two-stage IPO earlier in October.

The govt has taken a string of policy measures over the past couple of months to shore up the economy and revive credit.

The fall in income comes amid renewed speculation the company was preparing for its much-delayed overseas stock listing.