MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,810.46 points, up 0.35 per cent from the previous close.

The Sharia Index ended down 0.32 per cent at 537.38 points. National Gas, up 6.25 per cent, was the top gainer while Taageer Finance, down 2.70 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Al Sharqiya Investment were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Al Anwar Ceramic was the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 867 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2.6 million, with more than 15.8 million shares changing hands. Out of 56 traded stocks, 12 advanced, 15 declined and 29 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR487,000 while local investors were net sellers for OMR373,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR114,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,877.01 points, up by 0.03 per cent. Al Sharqia Investment, Oman & Emirates Holding, Bank Dhofar, Sohar International Bank and Ominvest were up 4.44 per cent, 2.13 per cent, 1.87 per cent, 1.11 per cent and 0.64 per cent respectively. Taageer Finance, Madina Takaful, Al Omaniya Financial Service, HSBC Bank Oman and Al Anwar Investment were down 2.70 per cent, 2.13 per cent, 1.96 per cent, 1.96 per cent and 1.11 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,433.69 points, up 0.30 per cent.  Jazeera Steel Product and Al Anwar Ceramic were down 3.43 per cent and 0.58 per cent respectively. Galfar Engineering, Al Maha Ceramic and Raysut Cement were down 1.82 per cent, 0.66 per cent and 0.34 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.39 per cent before closing at 1,606.26 points. National Gas, Renaissance Service, Al Maha Marketing and Oman Telecommunication were up 6.25 per cent, 2.00 per cent, 1.75 per cent and 1.03 per cent respectively. Al Suwadi Power, Al Batinah Power, Sembcorp Salalah, Oman National Engineering and Ooredoo were down 1.75 per cent, 1.75 per cent, 1.25 per cent, 1.08 per cent and 0.51 per cent respectively.