MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,836.35 points, up 0.12 per cent from the previous close.

The Sharia Index ended up 0.68 per cent at 553.41 points. National Aluminum Product, up 3.88 per cent, was the top gainer today while Global Investment Holding, down 4.00 per cent, was the top loser.

Shares of Madina Takaful were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while National Aluminum Product was most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 617 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2 million, with more than 10 million shares changing hands. Out of 43 traded stocks, 16 advanced, 11 declined and 16 remained unchanged.

At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR259,000 while local investors were net buyers for OMR255,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR5,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index remained unchanged at 5,952.39 points, 0.00 per cent. Oman & Emirates Holding, Ominvest, Al Anwar Investment, Al Sharqia Investment and Madina Takaful were up 2.00 per cent, 1.28 per cent, 1.11 per cent, 1.11 per cent and 1.06 per cent respectively. Global Investment Holding, Muscat Finance, Taageer Finance, Sohar International Bank and Bank Dhofar were down 4.00 per cent, 2.17 per cent, 1.43 per cent, 1.14 per cent and 0.87 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,516.82 points, up 0.61 per cent. National Aluminum Product, Jazeera Steel Product, Oman Cement and Al Maha Ceramic were up 3.88 per cent, 3.33 per cent, 3.31 per cent and 3.14 per cent respectively. Galfar Engineering, Al Anwar Ceramic, Raysut Cement were down 2.00 per cent, 0.83 per cent and 0.34 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.31 per cent closing at 1,621.85 points. Muscat Gases, Al Jazeera Services, Oman Oil Marketing, National Gas and Oman Telecommunication were up 3.31 per cent, 2.67 per cent, 1.67 per cent, 1.37 per cent and 1.04 per cent respectively. Al Batinah Power and Al Suwadi Power were down 1.79 per cent and 1.72 per cent respectively.