MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,050.96 points, down 0.26 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.73 per cent at 543.14 points.

Sembcorp Salalah was the top gainer, up by 9.86 per cent, while Al Jazeera Services, down 4.12 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of OIFC were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 466 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3.22 million, with more than 17.03 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 8 advanced, 20 declined and 16 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net sellers for OMR160,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR90,000 followed by domestic investors for OMR69,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,421.40 points, down 0.31 per cent. Vision Insurance and Ahli Bank were up 2.20 per cent and 0.91 per cent respectively. Al Anwar Investment, Al Sharqia Investment, Madina Takaful, Muscat Finance and Bank Dhofar were down 3.13 per cent, 2.33 per cent, 2.11 per cent, 1.79 per cent and 1.48 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,084.48 points, down 0.48 per cent. Oman Cement was the only gainer by 0.42 per cent. While Voltamp Energy, Jazeera Steel Product, Raysut Cement, NAPI and Galfar Engineering were down 2.54 per cent, 2.17 per cent, 2.01 per cent, 1.48 per cent and 1.33 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.39 per cent before closing at 1,624.02 points. Sembcorp Salalah, OIFC, Muscat Desalination and Renaissance Services were up 9.86 per cent, 2.19 per cent, 2.15 per cent and 1.36 per cent respectively. Al Jazeera Services, Musandam Power, Phoenix Power, Muscat Gases and Oman National Engineering were down 4.12 per cent, 3.03 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 1.81 per cent and 1.08 per cent respectively.