Saturday 06 / June / 2026
Muscat: The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) maintained its trading value above the level of OMR1 billion for the fourth consecutive month in May 2026, despite declines recorded by many leading stocks as investors moved to sell to take profits after rises witnessed by the stock exchange during the past months.
Trading value during May reached OMR1.0478 billion, after recording in April the highest level of monthly trading in several years, exceeding OMR1.541 billion. Most of the trading in May was concentrated in shares of OQ Basic Industries, Bank Muscat, Bank Sohar International, OQ Exploration and Production and Omantel, which together accounted for 78 percent of the total trading value.
The Muscat Stock Exchange witnessed the execution of more than 107,000 transactions in May, compared to 131,000 transactions in April and 115,000 transactions in March.
Trading data issued by the Muscat Stock Exchange indicated that investors were buying shares of several companies that had recorded a decline in their prices, awaiting a new upward wave. OQ Gas Networks shares saw more than 17,000 transactions executed and the share price closed at 238 baisa, recording a decline of 35 baisa from its previous level. OQ Basic Industries shares saw 16,629 transactions executed and the share price closed at 260 baisa, declining by 56 baisa during the month.
The number of transactions executed on Bank Sohar International shares exceeded 13,000, and the share price closed at 207 baisa, down 31 baisa from its level in April. Bank Muscat shares saw 11,775 transactions executed, and the share price closed at 423 baisa, recording a decline of 53 baisa. Meanwhile, OQ Exploration and Production shares recorded a decline of 42 baisa and closed at 475 baisa after witnessing 9,201 transactions executed with a trading value exceeding OMR137.6 million. The company ended last month's trading with a market value of OMR3.8 billion.
The main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange recorded its first monthly decline in May after a rise that lasted for 10 months since July 2025. This decline came amid selling pressure on many stocks after the gains they recorded in the first quarter of this year. The main index ended trading in May at 7,757 points, down 612 points after gains of 201 points in April, 775 points in March and 1,063 points in February. On May 4, the index recorded its highest level of this year at 8,397 points, but selling pressures pushed the index to decline quickly to fall in trading on May 20 to 7,243 points, recording its lowest level since late February.
In May, the sectoral indices recorded a collective decline, led by the industrial sector index, which fell by 418 points. The financial sector index fell by 342 points, the services sector index fell by 93 points, and the Sharia index fell by 33 points, closing at 622 points.
During the past month, the prices of 33 securities rose, most notably Sohar Power Company, whose share rose by 80 percent from 188 baisa to 340 baisa. The National Bank of Oman's share rose from 404 baisa to 460 baisa, recording an increase of 13.8 percent, and Al Anqa Power Company's share rose by 13.5 percent from 221 baisa to 251 baisa.
The month of May also saw a decline in the prices of 65 securities, most notably Al Hassan Engineering (under liquidation) stock, which fell by 60 percent from 20 baisa to 8 baisa, Oman Fisheries stock, which fell by 20 percent and closed at 23 baisa, and OQ Basic Industries stock, which fell by 17 percent and closed at 260 baisa.
In the bonds and sukuk market, trading value increased by more than 100 percent from OMR2.1 million to about OMR4.5 million. Trading was concentrated on Bank Muscat's Tier 1 perpetual bonds, which saw trading worth OMR2.2 million. Meanwhile, Arab Oman Bank's mandatory convertible bonds issued in 2024 topped the list of the most rising bonds after climbing by 48.3 percent from OMR1.11 to OMR1.500. Oman Finance's free bonds issued in 2022 rose by 25 percent from 80 baisa to 100 baisa.
