Saturday 07 / March / 2026
Muscat: The market capitalisation of the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) remained stable by the end of week’s trading above the level of OMR36.28 billion maintaining the gains it achieved in previous weeks.
The market capitalisation of MSX recorded gains of more than OMR4.2 billion during the current year, compared to its closing level at the end of last year at OMR32 billion.
Shares of OQ Group and several other leading companies helped the Muscat Stock Exchange maintain its gains and brought the main index back up on Wednesday and Thursday after the sharp decline it recorded on Tuesday due to geopolitical tensions in the region.
The Muscat Stock Exchange benefited from rising oil prices and positive expectations that listed companies would not be affected by current events, reducing the main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange to 14 points, ending the week's trading at 7,378 points after it fell to 7,256 points in Tuesday's trading. The industrial sector index recorded the largest losses, declining by 238 points, the financial sector index fell by 78 points, the services sector index fell by 21 points, and the Sharia index recorded a decline of 14 points.
The Muscat Stock Exchange benefited from gains in several leading stocks, with 21 securities rising. OQ Exploration and Production (OQEP) shares climbed by 9 baisa to close at 477 baisa, increasing the company's market capitalisation to OMR3.816 billion, a weekly gain of OMR72 million. OQ Basic Industries (OQBI) shares rose 11 baisa to close at 240 baisa, boosting the company's market capitalisation to OMR830.2 million, a weekly gain of OMR38 million. Asyad Shipping shares rose 7 baisa to close at 246 baisa, bringing the company's market capitalisation to OMR1.2813 billion by the end of the week's trading, a weekly gain of OMR36.4 million. In a disclosure published during the week, the company downplayed the impact of regional events on its financial results, stating that its vessels have operating leases. It is closely monitoring recent developments in the Middle East region and working to keep its ships in safe locations.
The gains seen on the Muscat Stock Exchange included shares of the National Bank of Oman (NBO), Muscat Insurance, Musandam Power, International Financial Investments Holding, Oman International Development and Investment Company (Ominvest), Al Safa Foods, and a number of other stocks.
Trading value amounted to OMR277.2 million, down 18 percent from its level a week earlier, which was OMR339.7 million, while the number of transactions executed remained above 27,400.
Bank Muscat topped the list of most traded companies in terms of trading value at OMR57.8 million, representing 20.8 percent of the total trading value. Bank Sohar International came in second place at OMR53.8 million, OQ Exploration and Production came in third place at OMR49.3 million, OQ Basic Industries came in fourth place with trades worth OMR33.4 million Omani riyals, while OQ Gas Networks came in fifth place at OMR23.5 million, representing 8.5 percent of the total trading value.
The week also saw a decline in the prices of 50 securities, most notably Raysut Cement, Shell Oman Marketing, Galfar Engineering and Contracting, Al Jazeera Steel Products, and Building Materials Industry Company.
In the bond and sukuk market, Ominvest's mandatory convertible bonds issued in 2024 recorded the highest rise, increasing by 8.5 percent and closing at 114 baisa. Ahli Bank's mandatory convertible bonds issued in 2024 rose by 7.4 percent and closed at 115 baisa. Mohammed Al Barwani's new sukuk rose by 1.4 percent and closed at 1 rial and 65 baisa. Trading value in the bond and sukuk market during the past week amounted to 405,000, compared to 471,000 in the week before.
