Saturday 27 / September / 2025
Muscat: Trading value at the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) rose during the week rose by 58.1 percent to OMR126.2 million, compared to OMR79.7 million in the previous week.
This increase was driven by the buying interest of individual investors and the increase in purchases by local investment funds and institutions, which supported the positive trends at the bourse ahead of the announcement of the preliminary financial results for the third quarter of this year.
Omani individual investors’ purchases grew by 66.2 percent to OMR23.6 million compared to OMR14.2 million the week before. Local investment funds and institutions also increased their purchases to OMR93.8 million compared to OMR61 million, an increase of 53.7 percent.
Investors sought to capitalise on opportunities following recent declines in stocks, amid positive expectations of further improvement in the results of publicly listed companies, which are expected to be announced within the next two weeks.
Trading data issued by the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) indicated that the number of transactions executed rose to 18,293 compared to 16,427 in the previous week, an increase of 11.3 percent. Trading was focused on shares of OQ Basic Industries, Bank Muscat, Bank Sohar International, OQ Exploration and Production, and OQ Gas Networks, which together accounted for 75 percent of the total trading value.
On the indices front, the main index closed at 5,123 points, down 15 points over the week. The financial sector index also declined by 42 points, the industrial sector index by 7 points, and the Sharia index by 4 points. Meanwhile, the services sector index rose slightly, supported by a 4.9 percent rise in Omantel shares, reaching OMR1.81.
Prices of 35 securities rose, while those of 31 declined, while prices of 26 securities remained unchanged. The decline in leading stocks led to a drop in the market capitalisation of listed securities to OMR30.125 billion, with weekly losses amounting to OMR18.1 million.
Oman Refreshments topped the gainers, rising 10 percent to close at 122 baisas, followed by Dhofar Food and Investment by 9.5 percent to close at 69 baisas, and Oman National Engineering and Investment by 7.2 percent to close at 134 baisas. Meanwhile, Ahli Bank’s mandatory convertible bonds 2024 rose by 6.3 percent to close at 101 baisas, and Muscat Thread Mills by 5 percent to close at 210 baisas.
Muscat Insurance stock led the decliners, declining by 10 percent to close at 837 baisas, followed by Dhofar Power Generation stock by 5.6 percent to close at 83 baisas, then Ominvest stock by 4.6 percent to close at 245 baisas, Majan College stock by 4.2 percent to close at 114 baisas, and Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing stock by 4 percent to close at 950 baisas.
In corporate news, OQ Gas Networks has invited its shareholders to attend its Ordinary General Assembly meeting on October 9th to review the auditors’ report and approve the financial statements for the period ending June 30th, along with a proposed cash dividend of 5.6 baisas per share. OQ Basic Industries has also invited its shareholders to attend its Ordinary General Assembly meeting on October 19th to review a proposed cash dividend of 5 baisas per share for the first half of the year.
