MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,108.13 points, down 0.59 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index was up 0.17 per cent at 597.79 points.

Al Maha Ceramics, up 5.46 per cent, was the top gainer while Al Hassan Engineering, down 21.21 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Al Shaqiya Investment 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 1,035 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3 million, with more than 18 million shares changing hands. Out of 48 traded stocks, 7 advanced, 16 declined and 25 remained unchanged. At the session close, local investors were net sellers for OMR420,000 while foreign investors were net buyers for OMR339,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR81,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,547.82 points, down 0.56 per cent. Al Sharqia Investment, Dhofar Insurance and Madina Takaful were up 2.80 per cent, 1.62 per cent and 0.94 per cent respectively. National Bank Oman, National Finance and Ominvest were down 5.53 per cent, 3.42 per cent and 0.62 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,935.73 points, down 0.45 per cent. Al Maha Ceramics and Oman Fisheries were up 5.46 per cent and 3.66 per cent respectively. Al Hassan Engineering, Oman Flour Mills, National Aluminum Product, Oman Cement and Jazeera Steel Product were down 21.21 per cent, 3.92 per cent, 2.40 per cent, 2.37 per cent and 2.06 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 0.45 per cent before closing at 1,758.66.  Muscat Desalination and National Gas were up 3.45 per cent and 1.88 per cent respectively. Sohar Power, Shell Oman Marketing, Al Suwadi Power, Oman National Engineering and Oman Investment & Financials were down 4.26 per cent, 4.15 per cent, 1.79 per cent, 1.04 per cent and 0.77 per cent respectively.