MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 3,968.99 points, up 0.17 per cent from the previous close. The Shariah Index ended up by 0.60 per cent at 580.93 points.

Jazeera Steel Product was the top gainer, up by 8.05 per cent. While Al Hassan Engineering, down 16.67 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Galfar Engineering was the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 536 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR 9.3 million, with more than 20 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 16 advanced, 11 declined and 17 remained unchanged. At the session close, local investors were net buyers for OMR94,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR51,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR43,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,253 points, up 0.21 per cent. Prices of Oman & Qatar Insurance, Madina Takaful, Ominvest, Ahli Bank and Muscat Finance were up 2.27 per cent, 1.98 per cent, 1.95 per cent, 1.85 per cent and 1.75 per cent respectively. Vision Insurance, Taageer Finance, Sohar International Bank, Global Investment Holding and Oman United Insurance were down 4.94 per cent, 2.50 per cent, 2.17 per cent, 1.47 per cent and 1.16 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,330.03 points, up 1.69 per cent. Prices of Jazeera Steel Product, Galfar Engineering, Oman Flour Mills, Oman Cement and Oman Cables Industry were up 8.05 per cent, 5.26 per cent, 4.21 per cent, 3.03 per cent and 0.41 per cent respectively. Al Hassan Engineering was the only loser by 16.67 per cent.

Services Index was down by 0.63 per cent before closing at 1,681.76 points. Oman National Engineering was the only gainer 2.08 per cent. Renaissance Services, Phoenix Power, Al Batinah Power and OIFC were down 2.56 per cent, 2.13 per cent, 1.96 per cent and 1.43 per cent respectively.