Saturday 14 / February / 2026
Muscat: The main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) broke the 7,000-point barrier during the week, recording its best level since November 2014, supported by local investment funds and institutions that continue to inject liquidity into the stock exchange, targeting many leading stocks.
The main index recorded a strong rise in the week, increasing by 11.7 percent and closing at the end of trading on Thursday at 7,177 points, recording a weekly increase of about 753 points. The main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange began trading this year by rising above the 6,000 point level by January 5, and then continued its rise, benefiting from the demand of local investment funds and institutions to buy and the increase in investor confidence in the stock exchange.
Sectoral indices recorded a collective rise during the past week, and the financial sector index managed to add 1,365 points, concluding the week's trading above the 12,460 point level and recording a rise of 12.3 percent, benefiting from the rise in the shares of banks and investment companies, with the shares of Bank Sohar International, Bank Muscat and Bank Nizwa rising to new record levels, while the shares of other banks and investment companies strengthened their gains.
The services sector index rose by 8.2 percent and closed at 2,762 points, up 210 points, benefiting from gains in telecommunications, energy and services stocks. Industrial stocks pushed the sector index up by about 400 points, ending the week's trading at 9,430 points, recording a rise of 4.4 percent. The Sharia index rose by 7.9 percent and closed at 639 points, up 47 points during the week.
The gains recorded by the stocks were reflected in the market capitalisation of the Muscat Stock Exchange, which recorded gains of more than OMR1.856 billion, concluding the week's trading at OMR35.75 billion.
During the week, the Muscat Stock Exchange witnessed a rise in trading value of about 74 percent, rising to OMR377.2 million compared to OMR216.9 million in the week before, and the number of transactions executed jumped by 57 percent, exceeding 39,000 transactions.
During the week, investors targeted shares of Bank Sohar International, OQ Basic Industries, and OQ Exploration and Production, which together accounted for more than 55 percent of the total trading value. Bank Sohar led with trades of OMR77.2 million, followed by OQ Basic Industries with trades worth OMR76.8 million, and OQ Exploration and Production came next with trades worth OMR57.1 million. Omantel shares saw high trading volumes of OMR40.1 million, accounting for 10.8 percent of the total trading value, while Bank Muscat shares saw trades worth OMR39.7 million.
The prices of 68 securities rose, compared to 11 securities whose prices declined, and 19 securities remained unchanged at their previous levels. The National Aluminum Products Company's stock recorded the highest gains, rising by 42.2 percent and closing at 192 baisa. Bank Sohar International's stock rose to 221 baisa, an increase of 26.2 percent. Salalah Mills' stock recorded an increase of 25.8 percent and closed at 516 baisa. International Financial Investments Holding's stock rose by 25.5 percent and closed at 295 baisa. Financial Services' stock rose to 99 baisa, recording an increase of 23.7 percent.
Al Batinah Development and Investment shares led the losing stocks, declining by 23.3 percent and closing at 69 baisa. Muscat Gases shares fell by 3.7 percent and closed at 130 baisa. Oman Chlorine shares declined by 2.1 percent and closed at 228 baisa. Oman Cement shares fell by 1.6 percent and closed at 489 baisa. Oman Refreshments shares fell to 1.380 rials, recording a decline of 1.4 percent.
