MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,848.74 points, down 0.50 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 0.23 per cent at 553.61 points.

Salalah Mills, up 6.55 per cent, was the top gainer while Oman & Emirates Holding, down 9.43 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Madina Takaful were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Al Jazeera Service was most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 502 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1 million, with more than 7.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 46 traded stocks, 8 advanced, 19 declined and 19 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net sellers for OMR89,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR47,000 followed by Locals investors for OMR42,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,956.67 points, down by 0.73 per cent. Ominvest and Bank Muscat were up 1.97 per cent and 0.51 per cent respectively. Oman & Emirates Holding, National Finance, Taageer Finance, Al Omaniya Financial Service and Bank Dhofar were down 9.43 per cent, 6.78 per cent, 2.78 per cent, 2.68 per cent, and 2.52 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,497.17 points, down 0.15 per cent. Salalah Mills and Oman Refreshment were up 6.55 per cent and 0.76 per cent respectively. Dhofar Cattle Feed, National Aluminum Product, Jazeera Steel Product, Galfar Engineering and Al Maha Ceramic were down 3.19 per cent, 2.29 per cent, 2.12 per cent, 1.89 per cent and 1.83 per cent respectively.

Services Index remained unchanged by 0.00 per cent closing at 1,619.39 points.  Phoenix Power, Al Suwadi Power, Al Jazeera Service and Ooredoo were up 2.08 per cent, 1.79 per cent, 0.56 per cent and 0.51 per cent respectively. Oman Telecommunication, Renaissance Service and National Gas were down 1.50 per cent, 1.46 per cent and 0.68 per cent respectively.