MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,087.23 points, down 0.51 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index down 0.07 per cent at 597.40 points.

Al Maha Ceramics, up 4.66 per cent, was the top gainer while Al Hassan Engineering, down 7.69 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as turnover.

A total number of 807 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR5.82 million, with more than 24.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 55 traded stocks, 8 advanced, 24 declined and 23 remained unchanged. At the session close, local investors were net buyers for OMR3.02 million while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR2.75 million followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR270,000 worth of shares.           

Financial Index closed at 6514.19 points, down by 0.51 per cent. Prices of Global Financial Investments, Dhofar Insurance, Bank Nizwa, and Bank Muscat were up by 1.43 per cent, 1.06 per cent, 1.01 per cent, and 0.45 per cent respectively. Prices of National Bank Oman, Muscat Finance, Al Sharqia Investment, Sohar International Bank, and Takaful Oman were down by 4.26 per cent, 3.18 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 1.02 per cent and 1.00 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5928.06 points, down 0.13 per cent. Prices of Al Maha Ceramics, Jazeera Steel Products, and National Aluminium were up by 4.66 per cent, 2.11 per cent, and 0.61 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Hassan Engineering, Oman Flour Mills, Gulf International Chemicals, Al Anwar Ceramics, and Raysut Cement were down by 7.69 per cent, 4.08 per cent, 2.40 per cent, 2.04 per cent, and 0.69 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 0.13 per cent before closing at 5928.06 points. The price of Renaissance Services shares closed higher by 0.93 per cent. Prices of Muscat Desalination, National Gas, Al Suwadi Power, OIFC, and Sembcorp Salalah were down by 2.22 per cent, 1.84 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 1.55 per cent, and 1.18 per cent respectively.