MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,057.49 points, up 0.31 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 0.19 per cent at 590.79 points.

National Aluminum Product, up 9.59 per cent, was the top gainer while Sharqiyah Desalination, down 4.17 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Dhofar were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 1,294 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR4 million, with more than 34.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 55 traded stocks, 25 advanced, 5 declined and 25 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR246,000 while local investors were net sellers for OMR137,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR109,000 worth of shares.      

Financial Index closed at 6,451.99 points, up 0.42 per cent. Taageer Finance, Oman & Emirates Holding, Muscat Finance, Oman & Qatar Insurance and United Finance were up 7.41 per cent, 7.14 per cent, 5.00 per cent, 4.14 per cent and 3.33 per cent respectively. Al Madina Investment and Vision Insurance were down 4.00% and 1.15% respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,005.39 points, up 0.62 per cent. National Aluminum Product, Dhofar Cattle Feed, Galfar Engineering, Oman Cables Industry and Al Maha Ceramic were up 9.59 per cent, 3.33 per cent, 2.41 per cent, 1.31 per cent and 1.12 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.05 per cent before closing at 1,710.76 points. Oman National Engineering, Majan College, Oman Investment & Financials, Dhofar Generating and Oman Telecommunication were up 3.30 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 1.80 per cent, 1.53 per cent and 0.51 per cent respectively. Sharqiyah Desalination, Sembcorp Salalah and Ooredoo were down 4.17 per cent, 1.19 per cent and 0.49 per cent respectively.