MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,035.49 points, up 0.31 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 1.56 per cent at 583.76 points.

Oman Education Training, up 10.00 per cent, was the top gainer while Sharqiyah Desalination, down 8.00 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of United Finance were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 628 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3 million, with more than 16.6 million shares changing hands. Out of 51 traded stocks, 19 advanced, 9 declined and 23 remained unchanged. At the session close, Domestic investors were net buyers for OMR512,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR256,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR256,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,397.57 points, up 0.32 per cent. Oman & Qatar Insurance, Al Omaniya Financial Services, Sohar International Bank, United Finance and Muscat Finance were up 3.70 per cent, 2.48 per cent, 2.08 per cent, 1.72 per cent and 1.69 per cent respectively. Muscat Insurance and Vision Insurance were down 6.93 per cent and 1.27 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,928.26 points, up 2.19 per cent. Salalah Mills, Oman Flour Mills, Oman Cables Industry, Voltamp Energy and Galfar Engineering were up 9.71 per cent, 6.95 per cent, 4.31 per cent, 2.86 per cent and 2.44 per cent respectively. Oman Cement and Raysut Cement were down 0.80 per cent and 0.69 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.09 per cent before closing at 1,700.86 points. Oman Education Training, Oman Telecommunication and Al Jazeera Services were up 10.00 per cent, 1.03 per cent and 0.94 per cent respectively. Sharqiyah Desalination and Ooredoo were down 8.00 per cent and 0.98 per cent respectively.