MSX Index Rises 258 Points After Four Weeks of Declines

Muscat:  The main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) ended a four-week losing streak last week, gaining 258 points to close at 7,575 points, following a recovery in investor sentiment and improved market liquidity.

The rebound came after the conclusion of the public subscription for Oman India Fertiliser Company (OMIFCO), which contributed to the return of liquidity to the market and eased selling pressure. Positive expectations for listed companies’ financial results for the first half of 2026 also supported the market’s performance.

All sector indices closed higher during the week. The financial index advanced 441 points to 13,207 points, while the industrial index gained 177 points to close at 9,712 points. The services index rose 75 points to 3,054 points, and the Sharia Index added 17 points to end the week at 601 points.

Trading data released by MSX showed that the value of traded securities increased by 52 percent to RO 247.8 million, compared to RO 162.6 million in the previous week. The number of executed transactions also rose by 25.2 percent to nearly 48,000, up from 38,000 in the preceding week.

Trading activity was concentrated in banking, OQ Group and telecommunications stocks. Bank Muscat recorded the highest trading value at RO 54.2 million, representing 21.8 percent of total trading value. OQ Basic Industries ranked second with RO 37.7 million, followed by Sohar International Bank with RO 35.6 million, OQ Gas Networks with RO 29.7 million, and Omantel with RO 26.2 million, accounting for 10.6 percent of total trading value.

The market capitalisation of the Muscat Stock Exchange increased by RO 667.4 million during the week to reach RO 36.834 billion, supported by gains in several leading stocks.

OQ Exploration and Production remained the largest listed company by market capitalisation at RO 3.608 billion. Its share price rose by 24 baisas during the week to close at 451 baisas. Bank Muscat ranked second with a market capitalisation of RO 3.048 billion, after its share price increased by 9 baisas to 406 baisas. Asyad Shipping came third with a market capitalisation of RO 1.448 billion, with its share closing at 278 baisas.

A total of 50 securities advanced during the week, while 21 securities declined and 28 securities closed unchanged.

Al Maha Ceramics recorded the largest gain, rising 15.6 percent to 289 baisas. Salalah Mills advanced 14.1 percent to 685 baisas, while Galfar Engineering and Contracting gained 14 percent to close at 170 baisas. Aman Real Estate Investment Fund units rose 13.2 percent to 77 baisas, and Bank Dhofar shares increased 12.8 percent to 220 baisas.

On the losing side, Al Hassan Engineering (under liquidation) recorded the steepest decline, falling 42.8 percent to 4 baisas. Muscat Insurance dropped 5 percent to 570 baisas, Al Madina Investment fell 3 percent to 32 baisas, the second issue of Bank Nizwa Sukuk declined 2.8 percent to 102 baisas, and Oman Arab Bank slipped 2.5 percent to 232 baisas.