MSX index ends higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,504.49 points, up by 0.09 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up by 0.10 per cent at 462.50 points.

Oman Chromite, up 10.00 per cent, was the top gainer while National Gas, down 4.76 per cent, was the top loser. Prices of Bank Muscat Perpetual Bonds 1 was up by 7.61 per cent. Shares of Bank Muscat were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 475 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1.69 million, with more than 8.14 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 11 advanced, 16 declined, and 17 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR383,000 while domestic investors were net sellers for OMR279,000, followed by foreign investors for OMR105,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 7,273.59 points, up 0.05 per cent. Prices of Ahli Bank, Taageer Finance and National Bank Oman were up by 2.14 per cent, 1.08 per cent and 1.07 per cent respectively. Prices of Vision Insurance, Muscat Finance, Bank Muscat and Bank Nizwa were down by 10.00 per cent, 1.79 per cent, 1.79 per cent and 1.05 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,099.50 points, up 0.24 per cent. Prices of Oman Chromite, Al Anwar Ceramics, Galfar Engineering and Jazeera Steel Products were up by 10.00 per cent, 3.03 per cent, 2.31 per cent and 1.94 per cent respectively. Prices of Raysut Cement, Voltamp Energy and Oman Flour Mills were down by 3.50 per cent, 1.06 per cent and 0.66 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 0.15 per cent before closing at 1,538.81 points. Prices of Sembcorp Salalah, Muscat Desalination and Oman Telecom were up by 7.41 per cent, 1.74 per cent and 0.96 per cent respectively. Prices of National Gas, Al Maha Marketing, Barka Desalination, Shell Oman Marketing, and Oman National Engineering were down by 4.76 per cent, 2.60 per cent, 1.47 per cent, 0.98 per cent and 0.91 per cent respectively.