MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,264.44 points, up by 0.06 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up by 0.3 per cent at 484.23 points.

Oman Chlorine, up 19.84 per cent, was the top gainer while, A'Saffa Foods, down 7.92 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Galfar Engineering were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Bank Muscat were the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 1041 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of RO 4.86 million, with more than 27.55 million shares changing hands. Out of 49 traded securities, 19 advanced, 12 declined, and 18 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net buyers of OMR127,000, followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR102,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,738.99 points, down 0.15 per cent. Prices of Al Madina Investments, Al Anwar Investment, Global Financial Investments, Al Sharqia Investment and Al Madina Takaful were up by 2.86 per cent, 2.27 per cent, 1.32 per cent, 1.05 per cent and 1.04 per cent respectively. Prices of Oman Qatar Insurance, Oman & Emirates Investment, Bank Dhofar and HSBC Bank Oman were down by 2.35 per cent, 2.3 per cent, 1.71 per cent and 0.89 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,153.58 points, up 0.45 per cent. Prices of Oman Chlorine, Galfar Engineering, Oman Cement, Al Anwar Ceramics and Oman Fisheries were up by 19.84 per cent, 4.08 per cent, 2.51 per cent, 1.74 per cent and 0.84 per cent respectively. Prices of A'Saffa Foods, Voltamp Energy, Raysut Cement, Jazeera Steel Products and Oman Flour Mills were down by 7.92 per cent, 3.00 per cent, 1.75 per cent, 1.05 per cent and 0.59 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.22 per cent before closing at 1,679.55 points. Prices of Al Batinah Power, Phoenix Power, Ooredoo, National Gas and Muscat Gases were up by 4.17 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 1.14 per cent, 0.69 per cent, and 0.67 per cent respectively. Prices of OIFC, SMN Power Holding and Oman National Engineering were down by 2.5%, 2.27% and 1.82 per cent respectively.