Muscat bourse surges ahead amid better volume

Business Monday 28/August/2017 17:25 PM
By: Times News Service
Muscat bourse surges ahead amid better volume

Muscat: Boosted by higher trading volumes and buying in index heavyweights, the MSM30 Index climbed by 0.83 per cent to close above the 5,000 point-mark at 5,003.68 points. The MSM Sharia Index ended at 730.89 points, up by 0.52 per cent. Al Madina Takaful was the most active in terms of volume while Bank Muscat led in terms of turnover. Vision Insurance, up by 4.17 per cent, was the day’s top gainer while Sharqiyah Desalination was the top loser, down by 8.86 per cent.
A total number of 984 trades were executed on Monday, generating a turnover of OMR3.28 million with 18.4 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 17 advanced, 7 declined and 20 remained unchanged. Foreign investors switched to net buyers of OMR76,000 while GCC and Arab investors were net sellers of OMR46,000 followed by Omani investors for OMR30,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index gained 0.50 per cent to close at 7,422.52 points. Vision Insurance, Al Madina Investments, Gulf Investment Services, Bank Muscat and Bank Nizwa gained 4.17 per cent, 3.17 per cent, 2.74 per cent, 2.66 per cent and 2.20 per cent, respectively. Al Anwar Holding and United Finance lost 4.32 per cent and 3.48 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index closed at 6,708.91 points, up by 0.11 per cent. Oman Fisheries and Galfar Engineering gained 2 per cent and 1.43 per cent, respectively. Al Anwar Ceramics declined by 0.83 per cent to close at OMR0.119.
Services Index advanced by 0.55 per cent to close at 2,440.61 points. Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), Phoenix Power, Al Jazeera Services, Oman National Engineering and OIFC shares increased by 2.56 per cent, 2.56 per cent, 1.45 per cent, 0.67 per cent and 0.63 per cent, respectively. Sharqiyah Desalination, Majan College, Port Services and National Gas declined by 8.86 per cent, 6.88 per cent, 0.56 per cent and 0.35 per cent, respectively