Oman's share index ends marginally lower

Muscat: The MSM index closed at 3,602.56 points, down 0.12 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended down 0.22 per cent at 508.16 points. Gulf Investment, up 4.0 per cent, was the top gainer today while Al Jazeera Steel, down 3.52 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Gulf Investment were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded and Ominvest Perpetual Bonds was the most active in terms of turnover.

A total number of 444 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR1.5 million, with more than 7.56 million shares changing hands. Out of 36 traded stocks, 7 advanced, 11 declined and 18 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR64,000 while local were net sellers for OMR61,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR3,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 5,582.010 points, up by 0.07 per cent. Gulf Investment, Oman United Insurance, HSBC Bank Oman and Bank Dhofar were up by 4.0 per cent, 1.99 per cent, 1.14 per cent and 1.08 per cent respectively. Al Madina Takaful, National Bank of Oman, Sohar International and Bank Muscat were down by 1.35 per cent, 1.32 per cent, 1.11 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 4,164.090 points, down 0.16 per cent. Raysut Cement was up by 1.76 per cent. Al Jazeera Steel, National Aluminium, Al Maha Ceramic, and Al Anwar Ceramic were down by 3.52 per cent, 3.37 per cent, 0.49 per cent, and 0.43 per cent respectively.

Services index was down by 0.23 per cent before closing at 1,596.990 points. Phoenix Power, Renaissance Service and Ooredoo were down by 1.85 per cent, 0.57 per cent and 0.52 per cent respectively.