Oman's share index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSM index closed at 3,711.50 points, up 0.09 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down 0.06 per cent at 525.81 points. Gulf International Chemicals, up 2.86 per cent, was the top gainer while Al Omaniya Financial Service Bonds, down 20.00 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Ooredoo was the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as of turnover.

A total number of 295 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR0.947 million, with more than 4.15 million shares changing hands. Out of 36 traded stocks, 3 advanced, 11 declined and 22 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net buyers for OMR207,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR191,000 followed by domestic investors for OMR16,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,736.86 points, down by 0.03 per cent. National Life & General Insurance and Sohar International Bank were up 1.16 per cent and 1.09 per cent respectively. Al Anwar Holding, Al Sharqiya Investment Holding, and Bank Muscat were down by 2.99 per cent, 1.35 per cent, and 0.50 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 4,358.09 points, down 0.29 per cent. Gulf International Chemicals closed higher by 2.86 per cent. Galfar Engineering and Al Jazeera Steel were down 6.38 per cent and 0.69 per cent respectively.

Services index was down by 0.38 per cent before closing at 1,611.24 points. OIFC, Sembcorp Salalah, Renaissance Services, Omantel, and Jazeera Services were down 2.17 per cent, 2.00 per cent, 1.17 per cent, 0.55 per cent, and 0.39 per cent respectively.