Oman's share index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSM index closed at 3,650.79 points, up 0.30 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down 0.47 per cent at 508.48 points. Al Jazeera Steel, up 5.69 per cent was the top gainer while Dhofar Insurance, down 9.09 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Al Jazeera Steel 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 463 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1.1 million, with more than 9.0 million shares changing hands. Out of 35 traded stocks, 19 advanced, 5 declined and 11 remained unchanged. At the session close, local investors were net sellers for OMR69,000 while GCC & Arab were net buyers for OMR36,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR32,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,716.19 points, up by 0.09 per cent. United Finance, Gulf Investment, Muscat Finance, Takaful Oman Insurance and Bank Muscat were up by 5.41 per cent, 4.29 per cent, 2.56 per cent, 2.04 per cent and 1.03 per cent respectively. Dhofar Insurance, Taageer Finance and Bank Nizwa were down by 9.09 per cent, 1.16 per cent and 1.02 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 4,046.58 points, up 0.80 per cent.  Al Jazeera Steel, Al Anwar Ceramic, Oman Cable, Raysut Cement and National Aluminium were up by 5.69 per cent, 1.94 per cent, 1.40 per cent, 1.32 per cent and 1.16 per cent respectively. Asaffa Foods and Oman Flour Mills were down by 8.03 per cent and 0.56 per cent respectively.

Services index was up by 0.75 per cent before closing at 1,597.75 points. National Engineer, Renaissance Service, OIFC, and Ooredoo were up by 2.0 per cent, 1.19 per cent, 1.12 per cent, and 1.03 per cent respectively.