MSX index ends lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,123.25 points, down by 0.21 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up by 0.23 per cent at 466.06 points.

Al Maha Marketing, up 8.03 per cent, was the top gainer while, Salalah Mills, down 9.82 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Al Sharqia Investment were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 444 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1.29 million, with more than 10.17 million shares changing hands. Out of 45 traded securities, 14 advanced, 25 declined, and 6 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net buyers for OMR 210,000 while domestic investors were net sellers for OMR193,000, followed by GCC & Arab investors for OMR16,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,569.52 points, down 0.31 per cent. Prices of Al Sharqia Investment, Oman United Insurance, Bank Nizwa and Bank Muscat were up by 2.13 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 1.05 per cent and 0.38 per cent respectively. Prices of Muscat Finance, Oman & Emirates Investment, National Life & General Insurance, Sohar International Bank and Al Anwar Investment were down by 4.11 per cent, 4.04 per cent, 2.42 per cent, 1.82 per cent and 1.14 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,981.87 points, down 0.74 per cent. Prices of Voltamp Energy, A'Saffa Foods, Al Anwar Ceramics and Abrasives Manufacturing were up by 4.9 per cent, 3.01 per cent, 2.33 per cent and 0.94 per cent respectively. Prices of Salalah Mills, Gulf International Chemicals, Construction Materials, Dhofar Cattle Feed and National Aluminium were down by 9.82 per cent, 8.33 per cent, 4.26 per cent, 3.33 per cent and 1.04 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.12 per cent before closing at 1,591.78 points. Prices of Al Maha Marketing, National Gas, Al Batinah Power, Oman National Engineering and Renaissance Services were up by 8.03 per cent, 5.33 per cent, 2.08 per cent, 0.95 per cent, and 0.93 per cent respectively. Prices of Musandam Power, Phoenix Power, Al Suwadi Power, Sembcorp Salalah and Oman Telecom were down by 9.64 per cent, 2 per cent, 2 per cent, 1.39 per cent and 0.92 per cent respectively.