MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,081.98 points, down by 0.06 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.42 per cent at 500.42 points.

Muscat City Desalination Company, up 9.90 per cent, was the top gainer while, Dhofar Generating, down 8.93 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of United Finance were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Omantel was the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 354 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2.78 million, with more than 8.38 million shares changing hands. Out of 43 traded securities, 11 advanced, 11 declined and 21 remained unchanged. At the session close, domestic investors were net sellers for OMR519,000 while foreign investors were net buyers for OMR505,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR14,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6481.28 points, down by 0.12 per cent. Prices of Muscat Finance, United Finance, Global Financial Investments, Al Anwar Investment, and Bank Muscat were up by 1.72 per cent, 1.56 per cent, 1.45 per cent, 1.25 per cent, and 0.39 per cent respectively. Prices of Taageer Finance, HSBC Bank Oman, Sohar International Bank, Al Batinah Development Company, and DIDIC were down by 1.24 per cent, 1.01 per cent, 0.92 per cent, 0 per cent, and 0 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5716.16 points, down by 0.13 per cent. Prices of Oman Cement, Oman Fisheries, Oman Cables Industry, Oman Flour Mills, and Al Maha Ceramics were up by 1.72 per cent, 1.7 per cent, 0 per cent, 0 per cent, and 0 per cent respectively. Prices of Asaffa Foods, National Aluminium, Galfar Engineering, Jazeera Steel Products, and Al Anwar Ceramics were down by 8.16 per cent, 5.26 per cent, 1.39 per cent, 1.05 per cent, and 0.93 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.17 per cent before closing at 1637.59 points. Prices of Muscat Desalination, Al Jazeera Services, Oman National Engineering, Renaissance Services, and OIFC were up by 9.9 per cent, 1.91 per cent, 1.72 per cent, 1.37 per cent, and 0 per cent respectively. Prices of Dhofar Generating, SMN Power Holding, Al Maha Marketing, Al Batinah Hotels, and United Power - Preferential Shares were down by 8.93 per cent, 8.33 per cent, 1.71 per cent, 0 per cent, and 0 per cent respectively.