Muscat bourse falls on listless trading

Muscat: Trading activity remained muted and the MSM30 Index declined by 0.22 per cent to close at 4,978.01 points. The MSM Sharia Index ended at 709.65 points, down by 0.66 per cent. Bank Sohar was the most active in terms of volume while Oman Cement was most active in terms of turnover. The top gainer was Al Hassan Engineering, up by 12 per cent, while Sohar Power, down by 5.33 per cent, was the day’s top loser.
A total number of 509 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating a turnover of OMR1.33 million with 6.88 million shares changing hands. Out of 40 traded securities, 9 advanced, 10 declined, and 21 remained unchanged. Foreign investors were net buyers for OMR29,000 followed by Omani Investors for OMR17,000 while GCC and Arab investors switched to net sellers for OMR46,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index closed at 7,343.43 points, up by 0.12 per cent. Vision Insurance, Al Anwar Holding and Al Ahlia Insurance gained 2.13 per cent, 1.34 per cent and 1.23 per cent, respectively. Al Izz Bank, Oman United Insurance and Taageer Finance declined by 3.90 per cent, 2.11 per cent and 0.81 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index had a loss of 0.24 per cent to close at 6,662.47 points. Al Hassan Engineering, Al Anwar Ceramics, Oman Fisheries, Galfar Engineering and Gulf International Chemicals increased by 12 per cent, 1.63 per cent, 1.48 per cent, 1.37 per cent and 0.90 per cent, respectively. Oman Cement and Oman Flour Mills lost 4.41 per cent and 0.91 per cent, respectively.
Services Index ended at 2,616.56 points, down by 0.13 per cent. Al Jazeera Services, up by 1.88 per cent, was the only gainer. Sohar Power, Phoenix Power, Renaissance Services, MCDC and Omantel declined by 5.33 per cent, 0.79 per cent, 0.64 per cent, 0.62 per cent and 0.44 per cent, respectively.