MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,958.92 points, up 0.08 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up by 0.20 per cent at 595.99 points.

Salalah Mills, up 9.78 per cent, was the top gainer today while Sembcorp Salalah, down 2.38 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 in terms of turnover.

A total number of 354 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2.35 million, with more than 8.14 million shares changing hands. Out of 46 traded securities, 8 advanced, 12 declined and 26 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net buyers for OMR104,000 while local investors were net sellers for OMR117,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR13,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,291.41 points, up 0.19 per cent. Vision Insurance, Bank Nizwa, Taageer Finance, and National Bank of Oman were up by 3.90 per cent, 2.11 per cent, 1.22 per cent, and 1.08 per cent respectively. Prices of United Finance, Oman & Emirates Investment Holding, Ominvest, National Life & General Insurance, and Bank Muscat were down by 1.67 per cent, 1.41 per cent, 0.64 per cent, 0.53 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,959.81 points, up 0.71 per cent. Salalah Mills and Construction Material Industry were up by 9.78 per cent and 3.23 per cent respectively. Prices of Galfar Engineering, Oman Cement, national Aluminium, and Al Anwar Ceramic were down by 1.25 per cent, 0.88 per cent, 0.83 per cent and 0.44 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 0.26 per cent before closing at 1,710.16 points. Prices of Muscat Desalination and Renaissance Services were up by 2.44 per cent and 0.44 per cent respectively. Sembcorp Salalah, Dhofar Generating, and OIFC were down by 2.38 per cent, 2.31 per cent and 0.80 per cent respectively.