MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,089.42 points, down by 0.63 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.10 per cent at 505.99 points.

Sharqiya Desalination, up 10.00 per cent, was the top gainer while, Dhofar Insurance, down 8.67 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Shell Oman Marketing Company were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 381 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3.55 million, with more than 10.18 million shares changing hands. Out of 39 traded securities, 11 advanced, 17 declined and 11 remained unchanged. At the session close, domestic investors were net buyers for OMR259,000 while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR198,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR61,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,522.98 points, down by 0.60 per cent. Prices of Al Sharqia Investment and HSBC Bank Oman were up by 1.09 per cent, and 1.02 per cent respectively. Prices of Dhofar Insurance, Al Anwar Investment, National Bank Oman, Bank Dhofar, and Global Financial Investments were down by 8.67 per cent, 6.59 per cent, 2.63 per cent, 1.67 per cent, and 1.41 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,760.98 points, down 0.71 per cent. Prices of Construction Materials, and Al Hassan Engineering were up by 5 per cent, and 3.23 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Anwar Ceramics, Oman Fisheries, Galfar Engineering, Jazeera Steel Products, and National Aluminium were down by 3.59 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 1.37 per cent, 1.02 per cent, and 0.93 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.42 per cent before closing at 1,612.61 points. Prices of Sharqiyah Desalination, SMN Power Holding, Shell Oman Marketing, Oman Oil Marketing, and Sembcorp Salalah were up by 10 per cent, 9.09 per cent, 4.19 per cent, 2.35 per cent, and 1.41 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Batinah Power, Ooredoo, and Oman Telecom were down by 2.08 per cent, 0.56 per cent, and 0.51 per cent respectively.