MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,797.30 points, up 0.21 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 0.30 per cent at 539.13 points.

National Gas, up 4.35 per cent, was the top gainer today while Voltamp Energy, down 3.13 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Al Omaniya Financial Service were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Jazeera Steel Product was the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 827 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2 million, with more than 16 million shares changing hands. Out of 58 traded stocks, 13 advanced, 10 declined and 35 remained unchanged.

At the session close, local investors were net buyers for OMR112,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR82,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR30,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,875.09 points, up by 0.29 per cent. Oman Arab Bank, Ominvest, Al Sharqia Investment, Bank Nizwa and Madina Takaful were up 2.00 per cent, 1.29 per cent, 1.12 per cent, 1.08 per cent and 1.08 per cent respectively. United Finance and Al Anwar Investment were down 2.22 per cent and 1.09 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,417.33 points, up 0.42 per cent. Jazeera Steel Product, Raysut Cement and Oman Cables Industry were up 2.94 per cent, 2.43 per cent and 0.93 per cent respectively. Voltamp Energy, National Aluminum Product, Al Maha Ceramic and Al Anwar Ceramic were down 3.13 per cent, 0.90 per cent, 0.66 per cent and 0.57 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.08 per cent before closing at 1,599.94 points. National Gas, Ooredoo, Oman Oil Marketing and Shell Oman Marketing were up 4.35 per cent, 1.55 per cent, 0.56 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively. Oman Investment & Financials, Oman National Engineering, Oman Telecommunication and Renaissance Service were down 1.94 per cent, 1.06 per cent, 1.02 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively.