Oman's share index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSM index closed at 3,588.56 points, down 0.39 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 0.06 per cent at 518.74 points. Al Jazeera Steel, up 4.13 per cent was the top gainer while Muscat City, down 10.00 per cent, was the top loser. Renaissance Service was the most active in terms of the number of shares traded and Ooredoo was the most active in terms of turnover.
A total number 513 of trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1.7 million, with more than 7.6 million shares changing hands. Out of 43 traded stocks, 11 advanced, 14 declined and 18 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR241,000 while local investors were net buyers for OMR145,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR95,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index closed at 5,693.24 points, down by 1.01 per cent. Vision Insurance and Bank Dhofar were up by 2.20 per cent and 1.87 per cent respectively. Gulf Investment, Sohar International Bank, HSBC Oman, Takaful Oman, and Al Anwar Holding were down by 9.30 per cent, 4.26 per cent, 3.23 per cent, 2.73 per cent and 1.59 per cent respectively.
Industrial Index closed at 4,024.32 points, up 0.28 per cent. Al Jazeera Steel, Galfar Engineering and Al Anwar Ceramic were up by 4.13 per cent, 2.50 per cent and 1.03 per cent respectively. Dhofar Cattle Feed, National Aluminium and Al Maha Ceramics were down by 10.0 per cent, 1.11 per cent and 0.48 per cent respectively.      
Services index was up 0.61 per cent before closing at 1,588.14 points. Sembcorp Salalah, Al Jazeera Service, Renaissance Service, Ooredoo and SMN Power were up by 3.81 per cent, 2.65 per cent, 2.34 per cent, 1.56 per cent and 1.22 per cent respectively. Muscat City and Oman National Engineer were down by 8.00 per cent and 2.63 per cent respectively.