MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,971.40 points, down 0.01 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up by 0.06 per cent at 590.16 points.

Voltamp Energy, up 8.53 per cent, was the top gainer while Taageer Finance, down 2.44 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Sohar International Bank was the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 507 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2.8 million, with more than 20.3 million shares changing hands. Out of 43 traded securities, 9 advanced, 9 declined and 25 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR138,000 while Domestic investors were net sellers for OMR113,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR26,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,326 points, down 0.06 per cent. Prices of Oman & Qatar Insurance, Takaful Oman and Bank Muscat were up 3.90 per cent, 3.16 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively. Taageer Finance, Vision Insurance, Muscat Finance, Ahli Bank and Al Anwar Investment were down 2.44 per cent, 2.44 per cent, 1.61 per cent, 0.93 per cent and 0.85 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,011.10 points, up 0.27 per cent. Prices of Voltamp Energy and National Aluminum Product were up 8.53 per cent and 0.68 per cent respectively. Dhofar Cattle Feed was the only loser by 2.38 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.23 per cent before closing at 1,715.71 points. Oman Investment & Financials, Oman National Engineering and Dhofar Generating were up 3.60 per cent, 1.04 per cent and 0.80 per cent respectively. Muscat Desalinate, Sharqiyah Desalination and Ooredoo were down 2.38 per cent, 0.85 per cent and 0.52 per cent respectively.