Oman's share index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSM index closed at 3,627.39 points, up 0.41 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 0.05 per cent at 516.66 points.

Galfar Engineering, up 2.50 per cent was the top gainer while Gulf Investment, down 3.90 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Muscat were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded and also were the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 306 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR758,000, with more than 4.1 million shares changing hands. Out of 40 traded stocks, 10 advanced, 8 declined and 22 remained unchanged.

At the session close, foreign investors were net buyers for OMR108,000 while GCC and Arab were net sellers for OMR56,000 followed by local investors for OMR52,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,732.20 points, up by 0.16 per cent. Bank Muscat, Bank Dhofar, and National Bank of Oman were up by 1.07 per cent, 0.98 per cent and 0.64 per cent respectively. Gulf Investment, Taageer Finance and Al Sharqia Investment were down by 3.90 per cent, 3.41 per cent and 1.43 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 4,016.78 points, up 0.09 per cent. Galfar Engineering and Oman Cement were up by 2.5 per cent and 0.42 per cent respectively. Raysut Cement was down by 0.64 per cent.

Services index was up by 0.30 per cent before closing at 1,594.43 points. Omantel, Al Batinah Power, Al Suwadi Power and Renaissance Service were up by 1.92 per cent, 1.85 per cent, 1.82 per cent and 1.21 per cent respectively. National Gas and Oman National Engineer were down by 3.23 per cent and 0.94 per cent respectively.