Oman shares end marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,983.07 points, down 0.19 per cent from previous close. The Sharia Index ended lower by 0.30 per cent at 593.85 points.

Sembcorp Salalah, up 3.70 per cent, was the top gainer on Thursday while Bank Nizwa, down 3.03 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 354 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating turnover of OMR1.82 million, with more than 8 million shares changing hands. Out of 41 traded stocks, 15 advanced, 10 declined and 16 remained unchanged. At the session close, local investors were net buyers for OMR467,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR379,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR88,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6307.82 points, down 0.42 per cent. Prices of United Finance, Oman & Emirates Investment, National Bank Oman, and Oman United Insurance were up by 3.51 per cent, 1.47 per cent, 1.08 per cent, and 1.00 per cent respectively. Prices of Bank Nizwa, Al Omaniya Financial Services, Muscat Finance, Sohar International Bank, and Al Madina Takaful were down by 3.03 per cent, 2.52 per cent, 1.61 per cent, 1.08 per cent, and 0.96 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5958.53 points, down 0.30 per cent. Prices of Raysut Cement and Al Maha Ceramics were up by 0.74 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively. Prices of Jazeera Steel Products, National Aluminium, Oman Fisheries, and Oman Cement were down by 2.97 per cent, 1.64 per cent, 1.24 per cent, and 0.43 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.82 per cent before closing at 1,712.86 points. Prices of Sembcorp Salalah, Dhofar Generating, Al Batinah Power, Al Suwadi Power, and Renaissance Services were up by 3.7 per cent, 3.18 per cent, 2.00 per cent, 1.96 per cent, and 0.90 per cent respectively.