Profit-booking pulls down MSM index

Muscat: Shares on the Muscat bourse declined on selling pressure. The MSM30 Index retreated by 0.70 per cent to close at 5,130.59 points. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 745.76 points, down by 0.42 per cent. Galfar Engineering was the most active in terms of volume while Ooredoo led in terms of turnover. The top gainer was Oman Flour Mills, up by 2.37 per cent, while Renaissance Services was the top loser with loss of 8.41 per cent.
A total number of 588 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating turnover of OMR2.14 million with 12.67 million shares changing hands. Out of 45 traded securities, 2 advanced, 22 declined and 21 remained unchanged. Omani investors were net buyers for OMR273,000 followed by GCC and Arab investors for OMR56,000 while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR329,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index ended at 7,351.81 points, down by 0.67 per cent. Vision Insurance, up by 0.71 per cent was the only gainer. Gulf Investment Services, Al Sharqia Investments, Al Madina Investments, Oman & Emirates and Al Anwar Holding declined by 3.75 per cent, 3.67 per cent, 3.23 per cent, 2.44 per cent and 2.07 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index declined by 0.85 per cent to close at 6,842.65 points. Oman Flour Mills, up by 2.37 per cent, was the sole gainer. Galfar Engineering, Al Anwar Ceramics, Construction Materials, Oman Fisheries and Gulf International Chemicals fell by 5.88 per cent, 4.48 per cent, 3.70 per cent, 2.73 per cent and 0.47 per cent, respectively.
Services Index had sharp loss of 1.51 per cent to close at 2,551.52 points. Renaissance Services, OIFC, Al Jazeera Services, Omantel and National Gas lost 8.41 per cent, 4.55 per cent, 3.31 per cent, 2.15 per cent and 1.43 per cent, respectively.