MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,048.77 points, up 0.37 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 0.92 per cent at 575.45 points.

Gulfar Engineering, up 8.86 per cent, was the top gainer while Voltamp Energy, down 2.13 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Nizwa were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 1,173 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR5.5 million, with more than 41 million shares changing hands. Out of 62 traded stocks, 26 advanced, 14 declined and 22 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR400,000 while foreign investors were net buyers for OM246,000 followed by Local investors for OMR153,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,401.90 points, up 0.26 per cent. United Finance, Global Investment Holding, Oman & Emirates Holding, Ahli Bank and Muscat Finance were up 5.66 per cent, 5.26 per cent, 4.62 per cent, 3.64 per cent and 3.45 per cent respectively. HSBC Bank Oman, Sohar International Bank and National Life Insurance were down 1.82 per cent, 1.04 per cent and 1.00 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,800.98 points, up 0.87 per cent. Galfar Engineering, Salalah Mills, Dhofar Cattle Feed, Oman Cement and Oman Cables Industry were up 8.86 per cent, 8.70 per cent, 2.17 per cent, 0.80 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively. Voltamp Energy and Jazeera Steel Product were down 2.13 per cent and 1.00 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.20 per cent closing at 1,696.13 points.  Oman Education Training, Salalah Port Service, Oman Investment & Financials, OmanTelecommunication and Oman National Engineering were up 2.27 per cent, 2.08 per cent, 1.92 per cent, 1.53 per cent and 1.08 per cent respectively. Sohar Power, Al Batinah Power, Al Suwadi Power, Dhofar Generating and Sembcorp Salalah were down 2.13 per cent, 1.85 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 1.33 per cent and 1.22 per cent respectively.