Saturday 18 / October / 2025
Muscat: The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) recorded its highest weekly trading volume this year during the week, benefiting from the increased trading value of banking shares, OQ Group companies, and a number of other leading companies.
This comes at a time when most public joint-stock companies have completed the announcement of their preliminary financial results for the third quarter of this year.
Trading volume rose to OMR240.9 million during the week compared to OMR190.8 million during the week before, registering a 26.2 percent increase. The number of transactions executed rose from 19,529 to 25,171.
Muscat Stock Exchange witnessed high trading volume in Bank Sohar International, which accounted for 21.4 percent of the total trading value, with trades worth OMR51.6 million. Bank Muscat came in second with trading value worth OMR42.8 million, while OQ Basic Industries came in third with trades worth OMR35.8 million. Asyad Shipping came in fourth with trading value worth OMR28.6 million, and OQ Gas Networks came in fifth with trades worth OMR24.5 million, representing 10.1 percent of the total trading value.
The Muscat Stock Exchange's main index posted new gains last week, rising 40 points to close at 5,289 points. The financial sector index rose 169 points to 8,923 points, the industrial sector index rose 32 points, and the services sector index rose 4 points. Meanwhile, the Sharia index fell 4 points to close at 461 points.
Trading data issued by the Muscat Stock Exchange indicated that the total market capitalisation of securities listed on the exchange declined to OMR30.59 billion, recording weekly losses of OMR108.5 million, affected by the decline in the market value of the bonds and sukuk market, which fell below the level of OMR5 billion.
The total market value of the Muscat Stock Exchange was also affected by the decline in the shares of a number of companies listed on the parallel market, such as OQ Exploration and Production, whose share fell by 16 baisas, recording a decline in the company’s market value of OMR128 million, concluding weekly trading at OMR2.59 billion.
During the week, the prices of 38 securities rose, while 30 declined and 30 others remained unchanged. Al Anwar Investments recorded the highest gains, rising by 14.4 percent to close at 103 baisas. Liva Group rose by 13.4 percent to close at 295 baisas. Oman and Emirates Investment Holding Company rose by 11.4 percent to close at 78 baisas. Oman Qatar Insurance Company rose by 9.7 percent to close at 192 baisas. Al Jazeera Steel Products recorded a 9 percent increase to close at 545 baisas.
Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles was the biggest loser, declining 10.9 percent to close at 146 baisas. Muscat Finance fell 7.2 percent to close at 51 baisas. Al Madina Investment fell 6.9 percent to close at 40 baisas. Al Maha Ceramics fell 6.4 percent to 290 baisas. OQ Exploration and Production declined 4.7 percent to close at 324 baisas.
In company news, Al Batinah Power Company and Al Suwadi Power Company said in separate disclosures that they are in discussions with Nama Power and Water Procurement Company regarding a new power purchase agreement (PPA) to succeed the current agreement, which is scheduled to expire in March 2028. The two companies said they submitted their offer to Nama on September 28, including several options for the agreement duration, with a maximum of 15 years.
Sembcorp Salalah announced that it signed a new power and water purchase agreement with Nama Power and Water Procurement Company on October 12. The new agreement will commence on April 4, 2027, immediately following the expiration of the current agreement, and will remain valid for 10 years, ending April 3, 2037.
