MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,087.99 points, down by 0.11 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up by 0.09 per cent at 495.06 points.

United Finance, up 8.33 per cent, was the top gainer while, A'Saffa Foods, down 3.82 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of United Finance were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Oman Cables Industry was the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 748 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR5.7 million, with more than 34.2 million shares changing hands. Out of 40 traded securities, 15 advanced, 9 declined and 16 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR598,000 while domestic investors were net sellers for OMR436,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR162,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6475.08 points, down by 0.11 per cent. Prices of United Finance, Muscat Finance, Global Financial Investments, Al Omaniya Financial Services, and Oman United Insurance were up by 8.33 per cent, 4.92 per cent, 2.74 per cent, 2.26 per cent, and 1.58 per cent respectively. Prices of Bank Dhofar, Al Anwar Investment, Al Sharqia Investment, Bank Muscat, and Al Batinah Development Company were down by 1.7 per cent, 1.24 per cent, 1.06 per cent, 0.77 per cent and 0 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5772.04 points, up by 0.27 per cent. Prices of Al Maha Ceramics, Oman Fisheries, Oman Cables Industry, Oman Flour Mills, and Oman Cement were up by 3.62 per cent, 1.52 per cent, 0.42 per cent, 0 per cent, and 0 per cent respectively. Prices of A'Saffa Foods, Jazeera Steel Products were down by 3.82 per cent and 1.03 per cent.

Services Index was up by 0.17 per cent before closing at 1647.49 points. Prices of Dhofar Generating, Oman National Engineering, Al Suwadi Power, Oman Telecom, and Muscat Desalination were up by 8 per cent, 3.48 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 1 per cent, and 0.82 per cent respectively. Prices of Sembcorp Salalah, Al Jazeera Services, Ooredoo, Al Batinah Hotels, and United Power - Preferential Shares were down by 1.33 per cent, 0.63 per cent, 0.56 per cent, 0 per cent, and 0 per cent respectively.