Oman share index rises marginally

Muscat: Mixed trading witnessed on the Muscat bourse as foreign investors turned out to be net sellers and Omani retailers extending buying support on the bourse. The general index - MSM30 Index - closed at 5,952.10 points, up by 0.07 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index gained by 0.14 per cent to close at 882.05 points. Galfar Engineering was the most active in terms of volume while Sharqiyah Desalination led in terms of turnover. Oman Hotels & Tourism, up by 9.96 per cent, was the top gainer while Construction Materials was top loser, down by 2.78 per cent.
As many as1,342 trades were executed on Monday, generating turnover of OMR10.9 million with 23.4 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 13 advanced, 11 declined and 20 remained unchanged. GCC and Arab investors were net buyers for OMR384,000 followed by Omani investors for OMR6,000 while foreign investors remained net sellers for OMR390,000 worth of shares.
Financial Index advanced 0.46 per cent to close at 7,765.12 points. Oman & Emirates, Al Sharqia Investments, Gulf Investment Services, Al Madina Investments and Al Batinah Investment increased by 9.16 per cent, 8.70 per cent, 4.76 per cent, 3.13 per cent and 3.03 per cent, respectively. HSBC Bank, Al Madina Takaful and Bank Muscat declined by 1.64 per cent, 1.32 per cent and 0.99 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index retreated by 0.22 per cent to end at 7,209.10 points. Oman Fisheries and Raysut Cement gained by 1.52 per cent and 0.43 per cent, respectively. Construction Materials, Galfar Engineering, Al Jazeera Steel and Gulf International Chemicals declined by 2.78 per cent, 2.50 per cent, 1.50 per cent and 1.15 per cent, respectively.
Services Index closed the session at 3,244.81 points, up by 0.44 per cent. Oman Hotels & Tourism, National Gas and Renaissance Services advanced 9.96 per cent, 9.44 per cent and 3.73 per cent, respectively. Al Jazeera Services, Port Services and Sharqiyah Desalination declined by 2.13 per cent, 1.15 per cent and 0.53 per cent, respectively.