MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,276.82 points, down by 0.10 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.58 per cent at 487.36 points. Galfar Engineering, up 9.21 per cent, was the top gainer while, Sharqiya Desalination, down 6.96 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Nizwa 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 863 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR6.74 million, with more than 39.19 million shares changing hands. Out of 52 traded securities, 22 advanced, 15 declined and 15 remained unchanged. At the session close, domestics investors were net sellers for OMR662,000 while foreign investors were net buyers for OMR354,000 followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR307,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,840.02 points, down 0.12 per cent. Prices of Dhofar Insurance, Al Omaniya Financial Services, United Finance, Oman & Emirates Investment, and Taageer Finance were up by 7.18 per cent, 5.26 per cent, 4.94 per cent, 2.82 per cent, and 2.38 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Madina Takaful, National Bank Oman, Muscat Finance, HSBC Bank Oman, and Sohar International Bank were down by 6.12 per cent, 1.91 per cent, 1.70 per cent, 1.61 per cent, and 0.86 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,012.65 points, down 0.45 per cent. Prices of Galfar Engineering, National Aluminium, Oman Fisheries, and Gulf International Chemicals were up by 9.21 per cent, 4.82 per cent, 3.61 per cent, and 1.02 per cent respectively. Prices of Asaffa Foods, Al Anwar Ceramics, Raysut Cement, Jazeera Steel Products, and Oman Cement were down by 6.72 per cent, 5.70 per cent, 3.89 per cent, 1.00 per cent, and 0.83 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.11 per cent before closing at 1,628.17 points. Prices of National Gas, Oman Telecom, and Renaissance Services were up by 3.76 per cent, 2.22 per cent, and 1.38 per cent respectively. Prices of Sharqiyah Desalination, SMN Power Holding, OIFC, and Ooredoo were down by 6.96 per cent, 6.67 per cent, 4.14 per cent, and 0.60 per cent respectively.