Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: Although turnover improved, the MSM30 Index retreated 0.25 per cent to close at 5,714.87 points. The MSM Sharia Index ended at 859.73 points, down by 0.07 per cent. Al Anwar Holding was the most active in terms of volume, while Bank Muscat remained leader in turnover. Al Maha Ceramics was the top gainer, up by 2.10 per cent while Ahli Bank was top loser, down by 4.15 per cent.
As many as 587 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating a turnover of OMR3.62 million with 14.14 million shares changing hands. Out of 43 traded securities, 7 advanced, 13 declined and 23 remained unchanged. Foreign investors were net buyers of OMR634,000 followed by GCC and Arab investors for OMR144,000 while Omani investors switched to net sellers of OMR778,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index declined by 0.33 per cent to end at 7,553.77 points. Ominvest, Al Madina Investment and Al Anwar Holding gained 2.02 per cent, 1.85 per cent and 1.06 per cent, respectively. Ahli Bank, Bank Nizwa, Global Financial Investment, Gulf Investment Services and Oman & Emirates Holding fell by 4.15 per cent, 1.22 per cent, 1.16 per cent, 0.86 per cent and 0.75 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index advanced by 0.34 per cent to close at 7,376.89 points. Al Maha Ceramic, Oman Cement, Oman Flour Mills and Oman Refreshments gained 2.10 per cent, 1.32 per cent, 0.57 per cent and 0.23 per cent, respectively. Al Anwar Ceramics, Al Hassan Engineering and Gulf International Chemicals declined by 1.71 per cent, 1.67 per cent and 0.37 per cent, respectively.
Services Index ended at 3,063.17 points, down by 0.12 per cent. Majan College, Ooredoo, Al Jazeera Services and Oman Education & Training declined by 1.92 per cent, 1.20 per cent, 0.99 per cent and 0.66 per cent, respectively.
Sensex ends lower
Market played into the hands of bears for the fifth day on Tuesday as the Sensex ended at fresh two-weak low of 26,308 and the Nifty slipped below the key 8,100-mark, still cautious about how demonetisation will pan out.
The Bank of Japan (BoJ), on its part, kept monetary policy steady and offered a brighter view of the economy. There were geopolitical worries following deadly attacks in Europe. The rupee weakened to end at 68.03, which clouded sentiment.
The index dropped another 66.72 points, or 0.25 per cent, to end at 26,307.98 — its lowest closing since December 7. It moved between 26,435.56 and 26,241.43 on Tuesday. The gauge had lost 323.12 points in the previous four sessions.
The 50-share NSE Nifty below the 8,100 mark to close lower by 21.95 points, or 0.27 per cent, to end at 8,082.40, after shuttling between 8,124.10 and 8,062.75.
"Though the finance minister announced relief measures for small traders, markets were seen eyeing the cascading effect of demonetisation," said Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) preferred to keep their volume lower in view of approaching year-end holiday season as they pulled out funds from emerging markets, traders said.
Banking, healthcare and metal sectors saw the maximum decline. However, buying interest in select sectors like IT and consumer durables checked the slide.
SBI was hardest hit, plunging 2.62 per cent, followed by ICICI Bank 2.18 per cent. Bajaj Auto, Lupin, Tata steel, Hero MotoCorp, Adani Ports, Hindustan Unilever and Axis Bank retreated too.
Asian stocks ended largely mixed. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.50 per cent and Shanghai Composite was down 0.81 per cent.
Japan's Nikkei ended higher by 0.50 per cent after the Bank of Japan boosted its view of the world's number three economy as exports picked up on the yen slide.
Europe too was mixed in nervous trade after the deadly attacks in Germany and Turkey, with Frankfurt falling 0.10 per cent and Paris 0.22 per cent. London's FTSE was up 0.08 per cent.
As many as 19 scrips out of 30-share Sensex pack fell. The BSE Banking index was down 1.26 per cent, followed by healthcare 1.13 per cent, PSU 0.90 per cent, metal 0.87 per cent and auto 0.84 per cent.
Mid-cap and small-cap too fell by 1.40 per cent and 0.92 per cent, respectively, on continued offloading of positions by retail investors.
