MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,172.14 points, up 0.61 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.36 per cent at 528.46 points.

Ominvest up 4.58 per cent, was the top gainer while, Dhofar Cattle Feed down 8.97 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Muscat were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 531 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3.25 million, with more than 11.43 million shares changing hands. Out of 46 traded securities, 8 advanced, 16 declined and 22 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net sellers for OMR325,000 while Omani investors were net buyers for OMR20

2,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR123,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index closed at 6,653.46 points, up 0.78 per cent. Ominvest, Al Omaniya Financial Services, Bank Dhofar and Bank Muscat were up 4.58 per cent, 2.42 per cent, 2.40 per cent and 1.21 per cent respectively. Takaful Oman, Taageer Finance, Muscat Finance, United Finance and Al Sharqia Investment were down 5.06 per cent, 2.70 per cent, 1.69 per cent, 1.69 per cent and 1.10 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,056.74 points, down 0.45 per cent. Oman Cement was the only gainer by 0.81 per cent. Dhofar Cattle Feed, Al Anwar Ceramics, NAPI, A'Saffa Foods and Galfar Engineering were down 8.97 per cent, 2.73 per cent, 2.14 per cent, 1.70 per cent and 1.32 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.19 per cent before closing at 1,631.78 points. Omantel, Ooredoo and Al Maha Marketing were up 1.06 per cent, 1.04 per cent and 0.58 per cent respectively. Sharqiyah Desalination and OIFC were down 1.79 per cent and 0.68 per cent respectively.