Oman share index ends lower

Muscat: Following regional cues, the MSM30 Index ended the session negatively at 4,691.37 points, down 0.43 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index gained 0.12 per cent to close at 663.75 points. Bank Dhofar was most active in terms of volume while Omantel led in turnover. National Gas remained the top gainer, up 2.38 per cent, while the top loser was Oman & Emirates Holding, down 3.85 per cent.
A total number of 699 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating turnover of OMR2.38 million with 10.8 million shares changing hands. Out of 41 traded securities, 5 advanced, 18 declined and 18 remained unchanged. At the session close, Omani investors were net buyers for OMR260,000 followed by GCC & Arab for OMR70,000 while Foreign Investors remained net sellers for OMR330,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index retreated 0.67 per cent to close at 7,269.15 points. Al Izz Bank and Bank Nizwa gained 1.27 per cent and 1.16 per cent respectively. Oman & Emirates Holding, Al Anwar Holding, Gulf Investment Services, Al Madina Investments and Al Sharqia Investments declined 4.51 per cent, 1.94 per cent, 1.82 per cent, 1.82 per cent and 1.50 per cent respectively.
Industrial Sector ended at 6,414.91 points, down 0.08 per cent. Oman Flour Mills and National Biscuits increased 0.53 per cent and 0.13 per cent respectively. Oman Fisheries, Galfar Engineering and Gulf International Chemicals declined 1.63 per cent, 0.87 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively.
Services Index declined 0.43 per cent to finish at 2,513.18 points. National Gas, up 2.38 per cent, was the sole sector gainer. Al Jazeera Services, Al Suwadi Power, Pheonix Power, OIFC and Omantel decreased 3.57 per cent, 2.40 per cent, 2.19 per cent, 1.67 per cent and 0.97 per cent respectively.