Saturday 28 / February / 2026
Muscat: Cement sector shares on the Muscat Stock Exchange recorded strong demand from investors last week amid optimistic expectations of a recovery in the construction sector during the current year and its impact on cement companies listed on the exchange. This is on the back of projects like the Sultan Haitham City and integrated residential neighbourhoods within the Sorouh initiative and other real estate developments
Raysut Cement’s stock rose by 29 percent in the week amid expectations that the company would be able to overcome the challenges it has faced for several years and improve its financial results. The stock witnessed strong buy orders that pushed it up from 117 baisa to 151 baisa. The number of transactions executed reached 194 transactions with a volume of 2.9 million shares and a value exceeding OMR400,000.
During the week, investors showed more interest in Oman Cement Company's stock, which rose 50 baisa from 502 baisa to 552 baisa amid high buy orders. Trading volume on the stock reached 1.1 million shares worth OMR617,000. The company said it intends to distribute cash dividends of 46.54 baisa per share, and the proposal will be presented at the Annual General Meeting on March 28.
The Muscat Stock Exchange witnessed a rise in the shares of a number of industrial companies last week, which pushed the industrial sector index up by 216 points, benefiting from the rise in the shares of Oman Cement, Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles, Oman Cables Industry, OQ Basic Industries, Voltamp Energy and a number of other shares.
The services sector index rose 75 points, benefiting from the rise in shares of Omantel, Ooredoo, Abraj Energy Services, OQ Gas Networks, and a number of other companies. The Sharia index rose 12 points, while the financial sector index recorded a decline of 11 points, affected by the decline in shares of Ominvest, Bank Nizwa, the National Bank of Oman, and a number of other shares.
Trading data issued by the Muscat Stock Exchange indicated a decline in the value of trading during the past week to OMR339.7 million, compared to OMR360.8 million in the week before, recording a decline of 5.8 percent. The number of executed transactions declined by 10.4 percent to fall to 27,462 transactions compared to more than 30,000 transactions executed in the week before.
Bank Sohar International topped the list of most traded companies in terms of trading value, with trades worth OMR66.8 million, representing 19.6 percent of the total trading value. Bank Muscat came in second with trades worth OMR66 million and Omantel came in third with trades worth OMR46.1 million, representing 13.6 percent of the total trading value.
The total market capitalisation of the Muscat Stock Exchange rose to OMR36.28 billion by the end of the week’s trading, recording weekly gains of OMR347.7 million.
These gains were supported by the rises recorded by stocks during the past week, with the prices of 44 securities rising, compared to 38 securities whose prices declined and 14 securities that remained stable at their previous levels. Raysut Cement stock recorded the highest rise, increasing by more than 29 percent, followed by Oman Cement stock, which came in second place, rising by about 10 percent. Ooredoo stock came in third place, rising by 7.4 percent and closing at 360 baisa. Dhofar International Development and Investment stock jumped by 6.6 percent and closed at 320 baisa, and Oman Packaging stock rose to 180 baisa, recording an increase of 6.5 percent.
The shares of Oman United Insurance led the list of losing stocks, declining by 8.2 percent and closing at 390 baisa. The shares of National Aluminium Products declined by 7.6 percent and closed at 301 baisa. The shares of Financial Services fell by 6.7 percent and closed at 110 baisa, and the shares of Oman Chlorine declined by 5.1 percent and closed at 220 baisa.
