Muscat: Excluding a block deal, trading remained tepid with the MSM30 Index closing at 5,952.46 points, down by 0.12 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index declined by 0.03 per cent to end at 888.97 points. Oman International Investment and Development (Ominvest) was the most active in terms of volume and turnover. The top gainer was Global Financial Investment, up by 2.76 per cent, while the top loser was Al Batinah Development, down by 4 per cent.
As many as 779 trades were executed on Wednesday, generating turnover of OMR5.8 million with 17.3 million shares changing hands. Out of 47 traded securities, seven advanced, 22 declined and 18 remained unchanged. Omani Investors were net buyers for OMR2.72 million while GCC and Arab investors were net sellers for OMR2.36 million followed by foreign investors for OMR368,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index ended at 7,675.17 points, down by 0.16 per cent. Global Finance and Investment, Ominvest and Muscat Finance gained by 2.76 per cent, 1.82 per cent and 1.67 per cent, respectively. Al Batinah Development, Al Madina Investment, Al Sharqia Investment, Oman & Emirates Holding and HSBC Bank declined by 4 per cent, 3.03 per cent, 2.60 per cent, 1.92 per cent and 1.77 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index retreated by 0.17 per cent to finish at 7,343.50 points. Al Anwar Ceramics, National Detergent and Gulf International Chemicals increased by 2.63 per cent, 1.27 per cent and 0.40 per cent, respectively. Al Jazeera Steel, Construction Materials, Al Hassan Engineering, Galfar Engineering and Oman Cement declinedby 3.14 per cent, 2.94 per cent, 2.11 per cent, 1.74 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively.
Services Index ended negatively at 3,317.90 points, down by 0.61 per cent. Oman Telecommunications Company, up by 0.31 per cent, was the only sector gainer. Renaissance Services, Ooredoo Oman, Sembcorp Salalah, Port Services and Phoenix Power declined by 3.18 per cent, 1.56 per cent, 1.19 per cent, 1.19 per cent and 0.64 per cent, respectively.