Shares fall amid listless trading

Muscat: Shares on the Muscat Securities Market edged down amid listless trading on Wednesday. The MSM30 Index fell by 0.12 per cent amid lower trading activity to close at 5,930.51points. The MSM Sharia Index fell by 0.18 per cent to close at 888.43 points.
Bank Sohar was most active in terms of volume while Oman Telecommunications Company was the most active in terms of turnover. The top gainer was United Finance, up by 3.38 per cent, while Voltamp Energy was the top loser, down by 3.23 per cent.
As many as 497 trades were executed on Wednesday, generating turnover of OMR2.17 million with 7.3 million shares changing hands. Out of 40 traded securities, seven advanced, 16 declined and 17 remained unchanged. Omani investors were net buyers for OMR578,000 while GCC and Arab investors were net sellers for OMR295,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR282,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index closed at 7597.18 points, down by 0.24 per cent. United Finance, National Bank of Oman and Al Anwar Holding increased by 1.18 per cent and 0.44 per cent, respectively. Oman United Insurance, Bank Nizwa, HSBC Bank Oman and Al Sharqiya Investment declined by 3.04 per cent, 1.28 per cent, 0.93 per cent and 0.71 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index was down by 0.25 per cent to close at 7,316.95 points. Construction Material Industries, Salalah Mills, Packaging Co. Ltd and Raysut Cement increased by 3.13 per cent, 1.02 per cent, 0.77 per cent and 0.39 per cent, respectively. Voltamp Energy, National Mineral Water, Al Anwar Ceramics, Al Jazeera Steel Product and Galfar Engineering declined by 3.23 per cent, 1.64 per cent, 1.48 per cent, 0.93 per cent and 0.91 per cent, respectively.
Services Index closed at 3,287.73 points, down by 0.17 per cent. National Gas, Renaissance Services, Phoenix Power, Oman Telecommunications Company and OIFC declined by 0.76 per cent, 0.67 per cent, 0.65 per cent, 0.61 per cent and 0.49 per cent, respectively.