Saturday 13 / September / 2025
Muscat: The Muscat Stock Exchange's main index recorded its first weekly decline since mid-June in the week, ending an 11-week streak of gains during which it climbed above 5,100 points, its best level in more than seven years, rising more than 600 points from its closing level on June 19.
The Muscat Stock Exchange's main index closed the week at 5,081 points, down by 43 points. Sectoral indices followed the same trend, with the exception of the financial sector index, which rose by more than 80 points, benefiting from the support it received from shares of a number of investment companies, such as Ominvest, International Financial Investments, and Al Anwar Investments. Meanwhile, the industrial sector index recorded the largest declines, falling below 7,000 points, recording a decline of 92 points. The services sector index declined by 22 points, and the Shariah index declined by about 3 points, closing at 471 points.
During the week, the prices of 37 securities declined, while the prices of 21 securities rose and 25 securities remained stable. This decline coincided with local investment institutions reducing their purchases, causing the trading value to fall during the past week to OMR81.9 million, compared to OMR138.3 million in the previous week, recording a decline of 40.7 percent. The number of transactions executed declined by 23.4 percent, falling to 16,000 transactions, compared to more than 21,000 transactions executed in the week ending September 4.
These declines impacted the total market value of securities listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange, which recorded losses of OMR121.7 million during the week, concluding the weekly trading at OMR29.942 billion.
Trading data released by the Muscat Stock Exchange showed a decline in purchases by local investment institutions, which fell to OMR52.3 million, compared to OMR91 million the week before. Purchases by local investment institutions during the past week constituted 63.8 percent of the total trading value, compared to sales of 66.2 percent of the total trading value. At the same time, Omani individual investors turned to buying, capturing 25.7 percent of the total trading value, compared to sales of 23.3 percent of the total trading value.
Bank Muscat attracted investors, with trades worth OMR15.4 million, representing 18.8 percent of the total trading value. OQ Exploration and Production came in second place with trades worth OMR14.6 million, followed by OQ Basic Industries, which saw trades worth OMR12.8 million. Bank Sohar International came in fourth place with trades worth OMR11.8 million, and National Bank of Oman came in fifth with trades worth OMR7.4 million, representing 9.1 percent of the total trading value.
Ominvest shares topped the gainers, rising 11.2 percent to close at 258 baisas. International Financial Investments shares rose 7.7 percent to close at 167 baisas, while Oman Education and Training Investment shares rose to 1.400 baisas, recording a 3.7 percent increase.
Majan College's stock was the biggest loser, falling 9.8 percent to close at 119 baisas. Muscat Gases' stock fell to 108 baisas, recording a 9.2 percent decline, while Majan Glass' stock fell to 11 baisas, recording a decline of 8.3 percent.
Corporate news: OQ Basic Industries Corporation announced that its board of directors has proposed distributing cash dividends to shareholders at 5 baisas per share. This proposal will be presented to the company's ordinary general assembly, scheduled for October 19.
During the week, Asyad Shipping Company held its Ordinary General Assembly meeting, during which a cash dividend of 5.560 baisas per share was approved for the six months ending June 30.
