MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,241.20 points, up by 0.01 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up by 0.43 per cent at 487.68 points.

Al Batinah Development Company, up 25 per cent, was the top gainer while, Oman United Insurance, down 5.85 per cent was the top loser. Shares of National Bank Oman were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 1,053 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR5.71 million, with more than 38.2 million shares changing hands. Out of 57 traded securities, 26 advanced, 10 declined, and 21 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR118,000 while domestic investors were net buyers for OMR104,000, followed by foreign investors for OMR14,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,707.88 points, down 0.50 per cent. Prices of Al Batinah Development Company, Muscat Finance, Taageer Finance, United Finance, and Global Financial Investments were up by 25 per cent, 7.69 per cent, 4.21 per cent, 4.00 per cent, and 3.70 per cent respectively. Prices of Oman United Insurance, National Bank Oman, Al Madina Takaful, and Bank Muscat were down by 5.85 per cent, 4.5 per cent, 0.99 per cent, and 0.36 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,194.7 points, up 0.34 per cent. Prices of Dhofar Cattle Feed, Al Maha Ceramics, National Aluminium, Gulf International Chemicals, and A'Saffa Foods were up by 9.52 per cent, 2.40 per cent, 2.13 per cent, 1.87 per cent and 1.85 per cent respectively. Prices of Galfar Engineering, and Voltamp Energy were down by 2.02 per cent, and 0.83 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 1.3 per cent before closing at 1,663.44 points. Prices of Phoenix Power, Renaissance Services, OIFC, Al Jazeera Services, and Al Suwadi Power were up by 4.17 per cent, 4.17 per cent, 3.50 per cent, 2.74 per cent, and 2.04 per cent respectively. Prices of Sembcorp Salalah, and Barka Desalination were down by 1.22 per cent and 0.68 per cent respectively.