MSX index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,194.9 points, down by 0.58 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up by 0.14 per cent at 482.62 points.

Takaful Oman, up 6.06 per cent, was the top gainer while, Sohar Power, down 8.89 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Dhofar were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 776 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR9.95 million, with more than 54.31 million shares changing hands. Out of 48 traded securities, 8 advanced, 20 declined, and 20 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net sellers for OMR592,000, followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR41,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,632.04 points, down 0.7 per cent. Prices of Takaful Oman, Muscat Finance and Bank Dhofar were up by 6.06 per cent, 1.43 per cent and 0.87 per cent respectively. Prices of Bank Muscat, Global Financial Investments, Bank Nizwa, National Bank Oman and Sohar International Bank were down by 2.22 per cent, 1.32 per cent, 1.03 per cent, 0.98 per cent and 0.9 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,099.11 points, down 0.23 per cent. Prices of Oman Cement and Oman Packaging were up by 1.62 per cent and 1.17 per cent, respectively. Prices of National Aluminium, Al Maha Ceramics, Oman Fisheries and Al Anwar Ceramics were down by 4.4 per cent, 2.29 per cent, 0.89 per cent and 0.89 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 0.21 per cent before closing at 1,656.7 points. Prices of Al Suwadi Power, Barka Desalination and Oman Telecom were up by 2.04 per cent, 0.68 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively. Prices of Sohar Power, SMN Power Holding, National Gas, Oman National Engineering and Ooredoo were down by 8.89 per cent, 6.67 per cent, 2.74 per cent, 1.84 per cent and 1.14 per cent respectively.