MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,258.21 points, up 0.79 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.31 per cent at 526.04 points.

Construction Material, up 10.81 per cent, was the top gainer while, Raysut Cement down 3.56 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Sohar International Bank were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Renaissance Services were the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 895 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3.91 million, with more than 25.3 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 22 advanced, 6 declined and 16 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR384,000 while domestic investors were net buyers for OMR271,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR113,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,793.66 points, up 1.21 per cent. Bank Dhofar, Al Sharqia Investments, National Bank Oman, Vision Insurance and Al Omaniya Financial Services were up 3.85 per cent, 3.23 per cent, 2.54 per cent, 2.41 per cent and 2.31 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,014.11 points, down 0.40 per cent. Construction Materials, Gulf International Chemical and Jazeera Steel Product were up 10.81 per cent, 2.08 per cent and 1.54 per cent respectively. Raysut Cement, Al Maha Ceramics, Voltamp Energy and NAPI were down 3.56 per cent, 2.22 per cent, 1.80 per cent and 1.55 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.16 per cent before closing at 1,664.30 points. SMN Power Holding, OIFC, Dhofar Generating, Muscat Desalinate and Oman National Engineering were up 10.00 per cent, 2.52 per cent, 1.54 per cent, 1.15 per cent and 1.04 per cent respectively. Ooredoo and Sharqiyah Desalination were down 2.06 per cent and 0.91 per cent respectively.