MSX index ends higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,590.2 points, up by 1.28 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.08 per cent at 465.76 points.

A'Saffa Foods, up 10 per cent, was the top gainer while, Aman REIT, down 3.23 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Oman Telecom were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 625 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR5.95 million, with more than 15.25 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 22 advanced, 10 declined, and 12 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR388,00 while domestic investors were net sellers for OMR257,000, followed by foreign investors for OMR131,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 7,325.44 points, up 0.69 per cent. Prices of National Bank Oman, Taageer Finance, HSBC Bank Oman, Al Sharqia Investment and Sohar International Bank were up by 6.56 per cent, 2.02 per cent, 1.95 per cent, 1.19 per cent and 0.89 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Omaniya Financial Services, Oman & Emirates Investment, Al Madina Takaful, Muscat Finance and National Finance were down by 3.03 per cent, 2.25 per cent, 2.17 per cent, 1.47 per cent and 0.86 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,808.42 points, up 1.77 per cent. Prices of A'Saffa Foods, Voltamp Energy, Oman Cement, Raysut Cement and National Aluminium were up by 10 per cent, 9.47 per cent, 5.56 per cent, 5.16 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively. Al Anwar Ceramics was the only loser for the day down by 2.4 per cent.

Services Index was up by 0.77 per cent before closing at 1,670.89 points. Prices of Oman Telecom, Oman National Engineering, Ooredoo, Al Jazeera Services and Renaissance Services were up by 3.51 per cent, 2.73 per cent, 1.54 per cent, 1.4 per cent, and 1.25 per cent respectively. Prices of National Gas and Barka Desalination were down by 2.86 per cent and 0.73 per cent respectively.