MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,990.84 points, down 0.28 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index up 0.56 per cent at 595.63 points.

SMN Power Holding, up 3.17 per cent, was the top gainer while Oman & Emirates Holding, down 5.56 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 457 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1 million, with more than 6 million shares changing hands. Out of 49 traded stocks, 11 advanced, 17 declined and 21 remained unchanged. At the session close, local investors were net buyers for OMR167,000 while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR136,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR32,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,334.49 points, down 0.55 per cent. Prices of Al Anwar Investment and Madina Takaful were up 1.72 per cent, 0.97 per cent respectively. Oman & Emirates Holding, Oman United Insurance, Dhofar Insurance, United Finance and National Bank Oman were down 5.56 per cent, 2.90 per cent, 2.56 per cent, 1.72 per cent and 1.06 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,976.74 points, up 0.39 per cent. Prices of Al Maha Ceramics, Salalah Mills, Oman Cement, Oman Flour Mills and Jazeera Steel Product were up 2.75 per cent, 2.27 per cent, 1.75 per cent, 1.49 per cent and 1.00 per cent respectively. Oman Cables Industry and Al Anwar Ceramics were down 3.69 per cent and 2.13 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down 0.26 per cent, closing at 1,699.00 points. Prices of SMN Power Holding, Phoenix Power and Ooredoo were up 3.17 per cent, 2.22 per cent and 0.552 per cent respectively. Muscat Gases, Dhofar Generating, Al Suwadi Power, Renaissance Services and Oman National Engineering were down 3.49 per cent, 2.33 per cent, 1.92 per cent, 1.77 per cent and 1.09 per cent respectively.