MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,051.09 points, down 0.59 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index down 0.37 per cent at 587.74 points.

Global Investment Holding, up 6.06 per cent, was the top gainer while National Aluminum Product, down 9.40 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Phoenix Power were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Al Anwar Investment was most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 521 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1.8 million, with more than 14.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 36 traded stocks, 8 advanced, 17 declined and 11 remained unchanged.

At the session close, local investors were net buyers for OMR296,000 million while GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR194,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR102,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,478.13 points, down by 0.50 per cent. Prices of Global Investment Holding, Muscat Finance, Oman & Qatar Insurance, Vision Insurance and United Finance were up 6.06 per cent, 5.17 per cent, 3.68 per cent, 2.50 per cent and 1.79 per cent respectively. Oman & Emirates Holding, Ahli Bank, Ominvest, Sohar International Bank and Takaful Oman were down 5.48 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 1.26 per cent, 1.04 per cent and 1.01 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,812.72 points, down 1.12 per cent. Prices of National Aluminum Product, Jazeera Steel Product, Raysut Cement Galfar Engineering and Al Anwar Ceramic were down 9.40 per cent, 4.39 per cent, 3.23 per cent, 2.47 and 0.43 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 0.68 per cent before closing at 1,727.31 points. The price of Al Batinah Power was the only gainer by 1.89 per cent. Phoenix Power, National Gas, Ooredoo, Renaissance Services and Al Jazeera Services were down 4.08 per cent, 3.42 per cent, 1.97 per cent, 0.91 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively.