Oman's share index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,725.86 points, up 0.16 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 0.22 per cent at 535.67 points.

Voltamp Energy, up 6.40 per cent, was the top gainer while Oman Investment & Financials, down 2.50 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Al Anwar Investment were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 743 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR4 million, with more than 18 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded stocks, 21 advanced, 9 declined and 14 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net sellers for OMR370,000 while Omani investors were net buyers for OMR276,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR94,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,740.55 points, up by 0.30 per cent. Al Anwar Investment, United Finance, HSBC Bank Oman, Al Sharqia Investment and Sohar International Bank were up 4.40 per cent, 2.33 per cent, 2.00 per cent, 1.33 per cent and 1.10 per cent respectively. Ahli Bank, Bank Nizwa and National Bank Oman were down 1.87 per cent, 1.05 per cent and 0.66 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 4,827.05 points, up 0.56 per cent. Voltamp Energy, Oman Cables Industry, Al Maha Ceramics, Dhofar Cattle Feed and Oman Cement were up 6.40 per cent, 4.91 per cent, 3.61 per cent, 2.20 per cent and 0.42 per cent respectively. Galfar Engineering, Al Anwar Ceramic, Jazeera Steel Product and Raysut Cement were down 2.13 per cent, 1.79 per cent, 0.85 per cent and 0.34 per cent respectively.

Services index was up by 0.63 per cent before closing at 1,559.22 points. Phoenix Power, Al Maha Marketing, Al Batinah Power, Al Suwadi Power and Sembcorp Salalah were up 2.13 per cent, 1.79 per cent, 1.75 per cent, 1.72 per cent and 1.25 per cent respectively. Oman Investment & Financials and Ooredoo were down 2.50 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively.