Oman share index ends higher

Muscat: Muscat Securities Market (MSM) continued stronger for the third consecutive days, gaining by 0.62 per cent and closed at 4,447.71 points. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 613.21 points, up 0.11 per cent. Galfar Engineering continued to be the most active in terms of volume and turnover. National Life and General Insurance was the top gainer with gains of 2.42 per cent, while National Aluminium, down 7.41 per cent, was the top loser.
A total number of 483 trades were executed during the day's trading session generating turnover of OMR1.2 million with more than 9.1 million shares changing hands. Out of 35 traded stocks, 13 advanced, 4 declined and 18 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors remained net sellers for OMR36,000 followed by the GCC and Arab investors for OMR28,000, while Omani investors continued to be net buyers for OMR64,000 worth of shares.
Financial Sector Index closed at 6,880.98 points, up 0.62 per cent. National Life and General Insurance, Bank Sohar, Muscat Finance, Al Anwar Holding, and Oman & Emirates investment holding company were up 2.42 per cent, 2.33 per cent, 2.27 per cent, 1.83 per cent, and 1.83 per cent respectively. Madina Takaful and Sharqiya Investment closed lower by 2.11 per cent and 1.96 per cent respectively.
Industrial Index closed lower by 0.19 per cent at 5,567.79 points. There were no gainers from the industrial sector, but National Aluminium and Oman Fisheries lost 7.41 per cent and 1.10 per cent respectively.
Services Index was up 0.34 per cent before closing at 2,408.14 points. OIFC, Jazeera Services, Al Batinah Power, Oman Telecom, and Ooredoo were up by 2.04 per cent, 1.79 per cent, 1.71 per cent, 1.04 per cent, and 0.78 per cent respectively. None of sector stocks registered a decline on Monday.