Saturday 27 / June / 2026
Muscat: Local investment funds and institutions increased their purchases on the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) during the week. Share prices declined as many investors sold to provide additional liquidity for subscribing to the shares offered by the Oman India Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO) for public subscription.
Purchases by local investment funds and institutions during the week amounted to OMR132.1 million, compared to purchases of OMR114 million in the previous week. The week also witnessed an increase in the value of trading by 16.7 percent, rising to OMR162.6 million, compared to OMR139.3 million in the week before. The number of transactions executed increased by 21.5 percent, from 31,000 to more than 38,000.
The week also saw a decline in the prices of 54 securities, compared to 24 securities whose prices rose and 16 securities that remained unchanged at their previous levels.
Trading data issued by the Muscat Stock Exchange showed a decline in sales by local investment funds and institutions, constituting 75 percent of the total trading value, equivalent to OMR122 million, compared to purchases of 81.2 percent of the total trading value. Local investment funds and institutions sought to absorb excess liquidity, increase their purchases, and diversify their investment portfolios, targeting many stocks that witnessed clear declines during the past weeks.
Trading activity was concentrated on shares of Bank Sohar International, Bank Muscat, OQ Basic Industries, OQ Gas Networks and the National Bank of Oman, which topped the list of most traded companies in terms of trading value.
During the week, many leading stocks such as Bank Muscat, Bank Sohar International, OQ Exploration and Production, OQ Gas Networks, Abraj Energy Services, Omantel, OQ Basic Industries and many other stocks declined, pushing the main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange and sector indices to record a collective decline.
The main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange recorded a decline of 265 points last week and closed at 7,316 points. The financial sector index declined by 287 points, the services sector index declined by 74 points, the industrial sector index fell by 43 points, and the Sharia index recorded a decline of 16 points and closed at 584 points.
The Muscat Stock Exchange has been facing numerous pressures since mid-May, which have pushed the main index below the 8,000-point level. However, it is expected that stocks will resume their upward trend in the coming period with the decline in selling pressures, the return of surplus funds from the IPO, and the announcement of the preliminary financial results for the first half of this year.
The declines in stocks were reflected in the overall market capitalisation of the Muscat Stock Exchange, which fell at the end of last week’s trading to 36 billion and 166 million Omani riyals, recording weekly losses of 537.6 million Omani riyals.
Al Batinah Development and Investment shares recorded the highest losses, declining by 17.6 percent and closing at 70 baisa. Oman Chlorine shares fell by 10.8 percent and closed at 165 baisa. Muscat Insurance shares declined by 9.9 percent and closed at 600 baisa. Al Sharqiyah Desalination shares recorded a decline of 8.5 percent and closed at 160 baisa.
In contrast, Oman Packaging shares rose by 9.9 percent and closed at 199 baisa, Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing shares climbed to 1.140 rials, recording an 8 percent increase, Salalah Port Services shares rose by 6.5 percent and closed at 485 baisa, and Oman Educational and Training Investments shares climbed to 1.800 rials, recording a 5.8 percent increase.
