Oman’s benchmark MSX30 index closed 101.2 points, or 1.37%, lower at 7,278.18 on Sunday, October 25, compared with 7,379.41 at the previous session’s close, according to the daily Muscat Stock Exchange report carried by the Qatar News Agency.
Trading value rose 72.8% to about OMR55.86 million from OMR32.32 million in the previous session. Market capitalization fell about 0.7% to roughly OMR38.67 billion.
Breadth was weak. Of the 64 securities that traded, 44 declined, eight advanced and 12 were unchanged, the Oman Daily newspaper reported.
All of the exchange’s main sector gauges fell. The industrial index dropped 1.99%, the financial index lost 1.37%, the services index declined 1.05% and the Shariah index slipped 1.32%.
Salalah Mills led the decliners, falling 9.2% to 590 baisa. OQ Base Industries (SFZ) dropped 4.72% to 222 baisa, Galfar Engineering and Contracting lost 4.4% to 149 baisa and Al Batinah Development and Investment slid 4.1% to 69 baisa.
Shell Oman Marketing was the top gainer, rising 3.6% to 799 baisa. Barka Desalination added 3% to 168 baisa, Raysut Cement gained 2.2% to 179 baisa and Bank Dhofar rose 0.9% to 225 baisa.
Omantel was the most actively traded stock by value, accounting for 24.2% of turnover at OMR13.5 million. Government Development Bond Issue 83 followed with OMR12.02 million, then Bank Muscat with OMR10.1 million and OQ Exploration and Production with OMR5.3 million.
The decline came on a weak day for several regional markets. Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed 2.65% lower at its weakest level since March 2021, while Kuwait’s and Qatar’s bourses ended higher.
