MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,917.21 points, down 0.10 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.73 per cent at 579.62 points.

Renaissance Services was the top gainer, up by 6.64 per cent. While Assafa Foods, down 4.76 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Dhofar was 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 423 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2.7 million, with more than 8.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 12 advanced, 28 declined and 16 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR145K while local investors were net sellers for OMR94,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR51,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,232 points, down 0.35 per cent. Prices Global Investment Holding, Oman & Qatar Insurance, United Finance, Muscat Finance and Madina Takaful were up 3.17 per cent, 2.07 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 1.72 per cent and 0.98 per cent respectively. HSBC Bank Oman, Oman & Emirates Holding, Sohar International Bank and National Bank Oman were down 2.17 per cent, 1.35 per cent, 1.09 per cent, and 0.54 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,990.95 points, up 0.34 per cent. Al Maha Ceramics, National Aluminum Product and Oman Cement were up 3.73 per cent, 0.71 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively. A'Saffa Foods, Oman Flour Mills and Al Anwar Ceramics were down 9.91 per cent, 2.04 per cent and 1.86 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 0.48 per cent before closing at 1,680.62 points. Renaissance Services, Phoenix Power and National Gas were up 6.64 per cent, 2.22 per cent and 1.45 per cent respectively.