MSX index ends higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,858.67 points, up by 0.13 per cent from the previous close.

The Sharia Index ended down by 0.06 per cent at 479.38 points. Al Batinah Development Company, up 10.00 per cent, was the top gainer while Al Maha Ceramics, down 5.00 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Al Batinah Development Company 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 872 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1.94 million, with more than 10.79 million shares changing hands. Out of 40 traded securities, 20 advanced, 6 declined, and 14 remained unchanged. At the session close, domestic investors were net sellers for OMR637,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR337,000, followed by foreign investors for OMR301,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 7,779.18 points, up 0.37 per cent. Prices of Al Batinah Development Company, Al Anwar Investment, Oman & Emirates Investment, Muscat Finance and Al Madina Takaful were up by 10.00 per cent, 6.76 per cent, 3.57 per cent, 3.51 per cent and 2.22 per cent respectively. Prices of Global Financial Investments, Oman Arab Bank and National Bank Oman were up by 1.79 per cent, 0.87 per cent and 0.37 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,015.32 points, down 0.06 per cent. Prices of A'Saffa Foods and Voltamp Energy were up by 9.90 per cent and 0.94 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Maha Ceramics, Oman Cement were up by 5.00 per cent and 0.66 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.58 per cent before closing at 1,704.66 points. Prices of Oman Oil Marketing, Shell Oman Marketing, National Gas, Oman National Engineering and Phoenix Power were up by 3.73 per cent, 2.05 per cent, 1.94 per cent, 1.89 per cent and 1.72 per cent respectively.