MSX index ends lower

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,785.65 points, down by 0.13 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.05 per cent at 482.47 points. Sohar Power, up 17.65 per cent, was the top gainer while OIFC Bonds, down 11.77 per cent, was the top loser. 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 641 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2.89 million, with more than 10.28 million shares changing hands. Out of 59 traded securities, 25 advanced, 19 declined, and 15 remained unchanged. At the session close, domestic investors were net buyers for OMR155,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR140,000, followed by foreign investors for OMR15,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 7,702.58 points, up 0.08 per cent. Prices of Oman Arab Bank, Global Financial Investments, Ominvest, Al Batinah Development Company and United Finance were up by 8.33 per cent, 3.45 per cent, 2.82 per cent, 2.56 per cent and 1.64 per cent respectively. Prices of Oman & Emirates Investment, Oman Qatar Insurance, Bank Dhofar, Oman United Insurance and Sohar International Bank were up by 9.30 per cent, 5.29 per cent, 3.13 per cent, 2.36 per cent and 0.96 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,074.35 points, down 1.26 per cent. Prices of Oman Chromite, Voltamp Energy, Jazeera Steel Products, Galfar Engineering and Oman Cement were up by 9.59 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 1.15 per cent, 1.02 per cent and 0.65 per cent respectively. Prices of Oman Flour Mills, Construction Materials, National Aluminium, Gulf Mushroom Products and Oman Fisheries were up by 10.00 per cent, 9.46 per cent, 9.09 per cent, 3.93 per cent and 3.23 per cent respectively.

Services Index was down by 0 per cent before closing at 1,694.27 points. Prices of Sohar Power, Oman Oil Marketing, Salalah Port Services, Al Suwadi Power and OIFC were up by 17.65 per cent, 10.00 per cent, 4.55 per cent, 3.23 per cent and 0.92 per cent respectively. Prices of Dhofar Generating and Muscat Desalination were up by 1.52 per cent and 1.01 per cent respectively.