MSX index ends marginally higher

Muscat: The MSX index closed at 4,047.58 points, up 0.30 per cent from the previous close. The Sharia Index ended up 1.32 per cent at 591.48 points.

Oman Education Training, up 10.00 per cent, was the top gainer while Dhofar Cattle feed, down 4.26 per cent, was the top loser. Shares of Bank Dhofar were the most active in terms of the number of shares traded as well as in terms of turnover.

A total number of 867 trades were executed during the day's trading session, generating a turnover of OMR24.6 million, with more than 19 million shares changing hands. Out of 58 traded stocks, 23 advanced, 7 declined and 28 remained unchanged. At the session close, Domestic investors were net buyers for OMR512,000 while GCC & Arab investors were net sellers for OMR256,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR256,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index closed at 6,416.18 points, up 0.29 per cent. Muscat Insurance, Vision Insurance, Oman & Qatar Insurance, Oman United Insurance and Madina Takaful were up 9.30 per cent, 7.69 per cent, 3.57 per cent, 2.11 per cent and 2.00 per cent respectively. National Finance and Al Omaniya Financial Service were down 0.88 per cent and 0.81 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 5,941.22 points, up 0.22 per cent. Voltamp Energy, National Aluminum Product, Oman Cement, Al Maha Ceramic and Raysut Cement were up 3.47 per cent, 2.24 per cent, 2.02 per cent, 1.70 per cent and 0.69 per cent respectively. Dhofar Cattle Feed and Jazeera Steel Product were down 4.26 per cent and 1.04 per cent respectively.

Services Index was up by 0.23 per cent before closing at 1,704.74 points.  Oman Education Training, Al Suwadi Power, Ooredoo, Muscat Desalination and Oman Investment & Financials were up 10.00 per cent, 1.85 per cent, 1.48 per cent, 1.09 per cent and 0.9 per cent respectively. Renaissance Services and Dhofar Generating were down 0.98 per cent and 0.71 per cent respectively.