MSX index ends higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,142.77 points, up by 0.04 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down by 0.36 per cent at 455.81 points.

OIFC, up 6.35 per cent, was the top gainer while, Oman Chromite, down 8.57 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Galfar Engineering were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded while Al Maha Ceramics was the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 604 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR3.84 million, with more than 16.96 million shares changing hands. Out of 47 traded securities, 11 advanced, 19 declined, and 17 remained unchanged. At the session close, domestic investors were net buyers for OMR285,000 while foreign investors were net sellers of OMR284,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,597.06 points, down 0.17 per cent. Prices of Taageer Finance, Bank Dhofar, HSBC Bank Oman, National Bank Oman and Bank Muscat were up by 3.41 per cent, 0.88 per cent, 0.85 per cent, 0.47 per cent and 0.38 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Sharqia Investment, Al Madina Takaful, Sohar International Bank, Al Anwar Investment and Ominvest were down by 3.66 per cent, 3.23 per cent, 1.89 per cent, 1.35 per cent and 0.65 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,733.81 points, down 1.77 per cent. Prices of A'Saffa Foods and Oman Cement were up by 3.57 per cent and 2 per cent respectively. Prices of Oman Chromite, Jazeera Steel Products, Raysut Cement, Al Maha Ceramics and Oman Flour Mills were down by 8.57 per cent, 6.67 per cent, 5.66 per cent, 3.92 per cent and 3.33 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.73 per cent before closing at 1,607.68 points. Prices of OIFC, Al Jazeera Services, Ooredoo and Muscat Desalination were up by 6.35 per cent, 3.55 per cent, 2.99 per cent and 1.8 per cent respectively. Prices of National Gas, Oman National Engineering, Renaissance Services, Barka Desalination and Oman Telecom were down by 4.93 per cent, 0.94 per cent, 0.87 per cent, 0.71 per cent and 0.46 per cent respectively.