MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,969.91 points, up 0.10 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.17 per cent at 592.51 points.

National Aluminium Products, up 7.63 per cent, was the top gainer while Oman Education & Training, down 6.61 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of OIFC was the most active in terms of the number of shares traded and in terms of turnover.

A total number of 760 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2.35 million, with more than 18.64 million shares changing hands. Out of 49 traded securities, 18 advanced, 8 declined and 23 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net buyers for OMR47,000 while local investors were net sellers for OMR27,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR20,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,321.10 points, up 0.26 per cent. Prices of Takaful Oman, Global Financial Investments, Oman & Emirates Investment, Al Sharqia Investment, and Al Anwar Investment were up by 5.21 per cent, 2.94 per cent, 2.7 per cent, 2.02 per cent, and 1.7 per cent respectively. Prices of National Life & General Insurance closed down by 1.07 per cent.

Industrial Index closed at 5,967.09 points, up 0.19 per cent. Prices of National Aluminium, and Oman Cables Industry were up by 7.63 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 0 per cent, 0 per cent, and 0 per cent respectively. Prices of Gulf International Chemicals, and Raysut Cement were down by 6.14 per cent, and 0.37 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.10 per cent before closing at 1,712.74 points. Prices of OIFC, National Gas, Al Batinah Power, and Oman National Engineering were up by 3.18 per cent, 2.86 per cent, 2 per cent, and 1.09 per cent respectively. Prices of Oman Education & Training, Muscat Desalination, Sembcorp Salalah, Renaissance Services, and Oman Telecom were down by 6.62 per cent, 2.38 per cent, 1.22 per cent, 0.88 per cent, and 0.52 per cent respectively.