MSX index ends higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,772.32 points, up by 0.27 per cent from the previous close.

The Sharia Index ended up by 0.16 per cent at 477.86 points. Oman Chromite, up 10.00 per cent, was the top gainer while Construction Materials, down 8.70 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Shell Oman Marketing were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 657 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR4.47 million, with more than 14.08 million shares changing hands. Out of 47 traded securities, 20 advanced, 12 declined, and 15 remained unchanged. At the session close, domestic investors were net sellers for OMR240,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net buyers for OMR220,000, followed by foreign investors for OMR20,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 7,732.25 points, up 0.47 per cent. Prices of Global Financial Investments, National Bank Oman, Bank Nizwa, Muscat Finance and Oman Arab Bank were up by 4.92 per cent, 2.16 per cent, 2.13 per cent, 1.72 per cent and 1.44 per cent respectively. Prices of Oman United Insurance, Al Anwar Investment, HSBC Bank Oman and Taageer Finance were up by 3.51 per cent, 2.38 per cent, 1.24 per cent and 1.04 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 6,103.69 points, up 0.21 per cent. Prices of Oman Chromite, A'Saffa Foods, Oman Cement and Gulf Mushroom Products were up by 10.00 per cent, 9.92 per cent, 1.16 per cent and 0.44 per cent respectively. Prices of Construction Materials per cent Voltamp Energy were up by 8.70 per cent and 6.98 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.63 per cent before closing at 1,686.78 points. Prices of Al Maha Marketing, Sembcorp Salalah, Phoenix Power, Al Batinah Power and Abraj Energy were up by 5.83 per cent, 3.66 per cent, 3.64 per cent, 3.33 per cent and 1.81 per cent respectively. Prices of Al Suwadi Power, OIFC, Al Jazeera Services, SMN Power Holding and Oman National Engineering were up by 3.13 per cent, 2.52 per cent, 1.92 per cent, 1.06 per cent and 0.91 per cent respectively.