Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Downward trend continued on the Muscat bourse on Tuesday. The MSM30 Index continued its downward trajectory to close at 5,737.24 points, down by 0.15 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index ended at 858.35 points, down by 0.58 per cent. Oman Fisheries was the most active in terms of volume while National Bank of Oman was the most active in terms of turnover. Oman Flour Mills remained the top gainer, up by 2.16 per cent, while Al Izz Bank was the top loser, down by 2.86 per cent.
As many as 655 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating a turnover of OMR2.52 million with 11.88 million shares changing hands. Out of 39 traded securities, seven advanced, 14 declined and 18 remained unchanged. GCC and Arab investors were net buyers of OMR130,000 followed by Omani investors for OMR6,000 while foreign investors remained net sellers of OMR136,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index retreated 0.20 per cent to close at 7,846.41 points. NBO, up by 1.66 per cent was the only gainer. Al Izz Bank, Al Sharqia Investment, Bank Nizwa, Oman & Emirates Holding and Al Madina Takaful declined by 2.86 per cent, 2.76 per cent, 2.25 per cent, 1.37 per cent and 1.32 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index closed at 7,486.85 points, down by 0.04 per cent. Oman Flour Mills and Oman Cement increased by 2.16 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively. Galfar Engineering, Al Anwar Ceramics, Gulf International Chemicals and Al Jazeera Steel declined by 2.41 per cent, 1.20 per cent, 0.70 per cent and 0.37 per cent, respectively.
Services Index was stable at 2,993.54 points, up by 0.02 per cent. Al Batinah Power, OIFC, Renaissance Services and Sembcorp Salalah gained 1.68 per cent, 1.44 per cent, 0.95 per cent and 0.43 per cent, respectively. Ooredoo Oman, Al Jazeera Services and Oman Telecommunications Company declined by 1.27 per cent, 1.06 per cent and 0.69 per cent, respectively.
India’s Sensex falls
Growth concern cast its shadow on the market as the flagship Sensex slipped marginally to close at 27,236 after IMF sharply lowered India's gross domestic product (GDP) estimate, with Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) proving to be a drag too.
The multi-lateral agency had cut India's growth rate for the current fiscal to 6.6 per cent from its previous estimate of 7.6 per cent due to the "temporary negative consumption shock" of demonetisation, which made investors anxious.
Reliance stock was in a tight spot as spending worries surrounding its telecom venture took some sheen off its quarterly results.
After opening higher, the 30-share BSE barometer hovered between 27,381.43 and 27,179.19 before ending at 27,235.66, showing a fall of 52.51 points, or 0.19 per cent. The gauge had gained 50.11 in on Monday trade.
The 50-share Nifty index fell 14.80 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 8,398 after shuttling between 8,440.90 and 8,378.30.
Key index heavyweights in metal, oil and gas, PSU, auto and banking sectors fell up to 1.52 per cent.
Index major RIL on Monday reported a 3.6 per cent rise in its third quarter net profit. After making a weak opening, shares of the company lost 3.31 per cent to close at Rs1,041.30.
The ongoing corporate results and the Union budget are also making participants tread cautiously though the GST agreement provided some relief.
Among the major losers, Coal India fell 2.14 per cent, ONGC 1.74 per cent, Adani Ports 1.68 per cent and HDFC 1.02 per cent.
NTPC advanced 3.08 per cent, Asian Paints 2.72 per cent, Axis Bank 1.98 per cent, HUL 1.52 per cent and ITC 1.35 per cent.
Sectorally, the bright spots were FMCG, power, IT, realty, technology and consumer durables.
Overseas, Asian and European stocks were mixed as US financial markets remained shut on Monday for Martin Luther King Junior Day.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei fell 1.48 per cent as investors remain cautious ahead of a Brexit speech by UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Donald Trump's inauguration as US President.
However, Hong Kong rose 0.54 per cent and Shanghai gained 0.17 per cent.
European indices were trading lower in their afternoon trade, with key indices in France, Germany and London falling by up to 0.64 per cent.
