MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,121.52 points, up 0.46 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 0.06 per cent at 597.05 points.

Al Hassan Engineering, up 25.00 per cent, was the top gainer while Oman Cables Industry, down 4.62 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Global Investment Holding were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Oman Investment & Financials were the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 1,122 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3 million, with more than 26 million shares changing hands. Out of 47 traded stocks, 19 advanced, 8 declined and 20 remained unchanged. At the session close, local investors were net buyers for OMR314,000 while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR228,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR86,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,561.60 points, up 0.61 per cent. Global Investment Holding, Oman & Emirates Holding, Al Sharqia Investment, Bank Muscat and Bank Nizwa were up 5.97 per cent, 4.11 per cent, 2.88 per cent, 2.34 per cent and 2.04 per cent respectively. United Finance, Oman & Qatar Insurance and Al Omaniya Financial Services were down 1.61 per cent, 1.32 per cent and 0.79 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,011.57 points, down 0.22 per cent. Al Hassan Engineering, Al Anwar Ceramic, Galfar Engineering National Aluminum Product and Oman Cement were up 25.00 per cent, 1.27 per cent, 1.19 per cent, 0.59 per cent and 0.40 per cent respectively. Oman Cables Industry was the only loser by 4.62 per cent.

Services Index was up by 0.59 per cent before closing at 1,762.56 points. Oman Investment & Financials, Phoenix Power, Al Batinah Power, Al Suwadi Power and Sembcorp Salalah were up 5.74 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 1.85 per cent, 1.82 per cent and 1.19 per cent respectively. Ooredoo, Oman National Engineering, National Gas and Oman Telecommunication were down 1.43 per cent, 1.04 per cent, 0.65 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively.