Muscat shares react on weak sentiment

Muscat: Shares on the Muscat Securities Market reacted on weak sentiment. The MSM30 Index retreated 0.52 per cent to close at 5,337.44 points. The MSM Sharia index declined by 0.36 per cent to close at 852.07 points.
Bank Nizwa was the most active in terms of volume while Bank Muscat led in terms of turnover. Up by 3.60 per cent, Al Jazeera Steel was the top gainer while Galfar Engineering was the top loser with losses of 4.55 per cent.
As many as 453 trades were executed on Monday, generating a turnover of OMR2.15 million with 8.9 million shares changing hands. Out of 38 traded securities, three advanced, 15 declined and 20 remained unchanged. Arab and GCC investors switched to net buyers to the tune o fOMR446,000 worth of shares followed by Omani investors at OMR352,000. Foreign investors, who remained net sellers, sold shares amounting to OMR798,000.
Financial Index declined by 0.46 per cent to finish at 6,355.91 points. Al Sharqia Investments, up by 2.27 per cent, was the sole sector gainer. Al Madina Takaful, Al Izz Bank, BankDhofar, Bank Muscat and Al Anwar Holding declined by 3.85 per cent, 2.99 per cent, 1.43 per cent, 1.30 per cent and 1.23 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index closed at 6,729.07 points, down by 0.12 per cent. Al Jazeera Steel gained by 3.60 per cent to close at OMR0.144. Al Jazeera Steel, Galfar Engineering, Oman Fisheries, Voltamp Engineering and Oman Cement declined by 4.55 per cent, 1.96 per cent, 1.87 per cent and 1.04 per cent, respectively.
Services Index ended the session at 3,027.89 points, a loss of 0.33 per cent. National Gas, Ooredoo Oman, OIFC, Port Services and Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) declined by 2 per cent, 1.69 per cent, 1.03 per cent, 0.76 per cent and 0.64 per cent, respectively.