Oman's share index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSM index closed at 3,667.13 points, up 0.35 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 0.27 per cent at 510.63 points. United Finance, up 9.76 per cent was the top gainer while Sharqiyah Desalination, down 10.00 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 746 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR2.6 million, with more than 11.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded stocks, 20 advanced, 6 declined and 18 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR279,000 while local were net buyers for OMR252,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR27,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,732.98 points, up by 0.23 per cent. United Finance, Oman & Emirates Investment, Al Madina Investment, Al Omaniya Financial and Al Anwar Holding were up by 9.76 per cent, 6.82 per cent, 4.55 per cent, 4.29 per cent and 1.56 per cent respectively. National Bank of Oman and Bank Nizwa were down by 1.27 per cent and 1.02 per cent respectively.  

Industrial Index closed at 4,154.770 points, up 1.27 per cent. Dhofar Cattle Feed, Al Anwar Ceramic, National Aluminium, Galfar Engineering and Al Jazeera Steel were up by 6.6 per cent, 6.51 per cent, 3.45 per cent, 2.44 per cent and 0.72 per cent respectively Al Maha Ceramics was down by 0.95 per cent.

Services index was up by 0.39 per cent before closing at 1,602.82 points. Al Jazeera Service, Al Suwadi Power, Renaissance Service, National Gas and Omantel were up by 5.94 per cent, 1.92 per cent, 1.16 per cent, 0.68 per cent and 0.58 per cent respectively. Sharqiyah Desalination and Ooredoo were down by 10.0 per cent and 1.03 per cent respectively.