MSX index ends higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,852.52 points, up by 0.17 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up by 0.06 per cent at 479.67 points.

Al Batinah Power, up 10.00 per cent, was the top gainer while National Mineral Water, down 10.00 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Al Maha Ceramics were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 924 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3.61 million, with more than 10.51 million shares changing hands. Out of 54 traded securities, 15 advanced, 18 declined, and 21 remained unchanged. At the session close, domestic investors were net buyers for OMR104,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR66,000, followed by foreign investors for OMR38,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 7,750.83 points, up 0.18 per cent. Prices of DIDIC, Bank Dhofar and Sohar International Bank were up by 5.00 per cent, 3.23 per cent and 0.97 per cent respectively. Prices of Muscat Finance, National Finance, Al Madina Takaful, Bank Nizwa and National Bank Oman were up by 1.72 per cent, 1.39 per cent, 1.10 per cent, 1.02 per cent and 0.37 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,019.20 points, down 1.06 per cent. Prices of A'Saffa Foods, Al Maha Ceramics, Oman Cables Industry, Voltamp Energy and Gulf Mushroom Products were up by 9.09 per cent, 5.77 per cent, 3.75 per cent, 0.95 per cent and 0.91 per cent respectively. Prices of National Mineral Water, Jazeera Steel Products, Oman Cement, Oman Fisheries and Galfar Engineering were up by 10.00 per cent, 9.72 per cent, 7.93 per cent, 4.44 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 1.38 per cent before closing at 1,694.89 points. Prices of Al Batinah Power, Al Jazeera Services, Oman Telecom, National Gas and Barka Desalination were up by 10.00 per cent, 3.08 per cent, 1.85 per cent, 0.98 per cent and 0.71 per cent respectively. Prices of OIFC, Sembcorp Salalah, Dhofar Generating, Phoenix Power and SMN Power Holding were up by 5.17 per cent, 4.82 per cent, 3.85 per cent, 1.70 per cent and 0.98 per cent respectively.