Muscat bourse retreats amid subdued activity

Muscat: Amid subdued trading activity, the MSM30 Index retreated 0.07 per cent to close at 5,892.80 points. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 893.65 points, up by 0.07 per cent.
Al Izz Bank was the most active stock in terms of volume while Bank Muscat led in terms of turnover. Wednesday’s top gainer remained Global Financial Investment, up by 4.12 per cent, while Al Madina Investment was the day’s top loser, down by 6.15 per cent.
As many as 787 trades were executed on Wednesday, generating turnover of OMR2.59 million with 14.98 million shares changing hands. Out of 44 traded securities, 11 advanced, 10 declined and 23 remained unchanged. Arab and GCC investors were net buyers to the tune of OMR246,000 worth of shares, while foreign investors switched to net sellers at OMR129,000, followed by Omani investors, who sold shares amounting to OMR117,000.
Financial Index declined 0.11 per cent to close at 7,588.82 points. Global Financial Investment, Al Batinah Development, Al Izz Bank, HSBC Bank and NBO gained by 4.12 per cent, 3.13 per cent, 1.56 per cent, 1 per cent and 0.79 per cent, respectively. Al Madina Investment, Bank Sohar and Gulf Investment Services declined by 6.15 per cent, 1.64 per cent and 1.61 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index closed the session at 7,578.24 points, up by 0.09 per cent. Oman Flour Mills and Gulf International Chemicals gained by 3.05 per cent and 0.76 per cent, respectively. Construction Materials, Oman Fisheries, National Aluminium, Galfar Engineering and Al Anwar Ceramics declined by 3.03 per cent, 1.52 per cent, 1.36 per cent, 0.93 per cent and 0.89 per cent, respectively.
Services Index gained 0.06 per cent to finish at 3,210.46 points. National Gas and Renaissance Services increased 1.28 per cent and 1.08 per cent, respectively.