MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,151.82 points, down by 0.46 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 1.81 per cent at 501.46 points.

National Finance, up 4.55 per cent, was the top gainer while, Construction Material down 11.11 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of National Bank Oman were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 399 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR4.4 million, with more than 25.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 10 advanced, 20 declined and 14 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR44,000 while domestic investors were net sellers for OMR43,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR1,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,553.28 points, down 1.14 per cent. Prices of United Finance, Global Financial Investments, Muscat Finance, and Muscat Insurance were up by 8.48 per cent, 7.46 per cent, 7.02 per cent, and 2.17 per cent respectively. Prices of Ominvest, Bank Dhofar, Ahli Bank, Al Omaniya Financial Services, and Taageer Finance were down by 4.4 per cent, 2.46 per cent, 1.65 per cent, 1.52 per cent, and 1.22 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,798.54 points, up 0.12 per cent. Prices of Oman Fisheries, Al Maha Ceramics, Galfar Engineering, and Raysut Cement were up by 3.85 per cent, 1.4 per cent, 1.37 per cent, and 1.01 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Anwar Ceramics, and Oman Cement were down by 1.4 per cent, and 0.85 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 0.14 per cent before closing at 1,602.45 points. Prices of OIFC, and Oman National Engineering were up by 3.23 per cent and 1.72 per cent respectively. Prices of SMN Power Holding, Renaissance Services, and Al Jazeera Services were down by 7.69 per cent, 4.04 per cent, and 0.64 per cent respectively.
The board of directors of Bank Dhofar proposed a cash dividend of RO 0.002 per share subject to CBO approval.