Oman's share index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,666.95 points, down 0.45 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down 0.41 per cent at 523.90 points.

Oman Cables Industry, up 9.26 per cent, was the top gainer while Oman National Engineering, down 5.62 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Al Anwar Investment were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded.

A total number of 970 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3.38 million, with more than 22.28 million shares changing hands. Out of 43 traded stocks, 13 advanced, 12 declined and 18 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR233,000 while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR206,000 followed by Omani investors for OMR27,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,666.60 points, down by 0.16 per cent. Al Anwar Investment, National Life Insurance, National Bank Oman and HSBC Bank Oman were up 4.88 per cent, 2.63 per cent, 1.99 per cent and 0.99 per cent respectively. Ahli Bank, Muscat Finance and Al Sharqia Investment were down 5.56 per cent, 2.33 per cent and 1.23 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 4,961.52 points, up 1.08 per cent. Oman Cables Industry, National Aluminum Product, Jazeera Steel Product, Voltamp Energy and Al Maha Ceramic were up 9.26 per cent, 8.00 per cent, 3.77 per cent, 2.26 per cent and 1.50 per cent respectively. Galfar Engineering, Oman Flour Mills, Raysut Cement and Gulf International Chemicals were down 3.92 per cent, 3.41 per cent, 1.12 per cent and 0.96 per cent respectively.

Services index was down by 0.39 per cent before closing at 1,546.00 points. Sohar Power, Sembcorp Salalah, Phoenix Power and Oman Investment & Financial were up 6.38 per cent, 2.56 per cent, 2.17 per cent and 1.18 per cent respectively. Oman National Engineering, National Gas, Ooredoo, Al Suwadi Power and Oman Telecommunication were down 5.62 per cent, 3.57 per cent, 2.09 per cent, 1.75 per cent and 1.07 per cent respectively.