MSX index ends higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,135 points, up by 0.28 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.25 per cent at 464.88 points.

Sembcorp Salalah, up 9.86 per cent, was the top gainer while, Al Batinah Power, down 2.04 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Sohar International Bank were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 342 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1.24 million, with more than 8.71 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 14 advanced, 14 declined, and 16 remained unchanged. At the session close, domestic investors were net sellers for OMR164,000 while foreign investors were net buyers for OMR148,000, followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR16,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,583.66 points, up 0.22 per cent. Prices of Ominvest, National Life & General Insurance, Oman United Insurance, Sohar International Bank and HSBC Bank Oman were up by 1.3 per cent, 1.24 per cent, 1.19 per cent, 0.93 per cent and 0.9 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Anwar Investment, Bank Nizwa, Al Sharqia Investment and National Bank Oman were down by 1.15 per cent, 1.04 per cent, 1.04 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,972.34 points, down 0.16 per cent. Jazeera Steel Products was the only gainer up by 1.68 per cent. Prices of Al Anwar Ceramics, Galfar Engineering, Oman Fisheries, Raysut Cement and Oman Cement were down by 1.36 per cent, 0.94 per cent, 0.84 per cent, 0.61 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 1 per cent before closing at 1,607.7 points. Prices of Sembcorp Salalah, Barka Desalination, Phoenix Power, OIFC and Musandam Power were up by 9.86 per cent, 2.17 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 0.7 per cent, and 0.67 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Batinah Power, Oman National Engineering and National Gas were down by 2.04 per cent, 0.94 per cent and 0.63 per cent respectively.