Muscat Stock Exchange Index Rises 4.5% in August 2026

Muscat: The main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange resumed its upward trend in August 2026, gaining 326 points after declining by more than 1,090 points during the previous three months.

The exchange recorded improvements across several key indices last month, supported by increased investor demand, improved share prices and announcements of interim dividends by a number of listed companies.

The main index rose 4.5%, closing above 7,600 points. The Financial Sector Index gained 463 points to close at 13,385 points, while the Services Sector Index rose 147 points to 3,060 points. The Industrial Sector Index also gained 147 points, reaching 9,613 points. The Sharia Index increased by around 32 points to close at nearly 611 points.

The market value of securities listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange reached OMR 38.64 billion by the end of August, registering an increase of more than OMR 1.05 billion compared to July.

Trading value increased for the third consecutive month, reaching OMR 976.4 million, compared to OMR 920.9 million in July and OMR 776.1 million in June.

The volume of securities traded also increased by 2.8% to 3.472 billion securities. However, the number of executed transactions declined to 178,000, compared to more than 200,000 transactions in July.

Adel Waleed, Brokerage Manager at United Securities Company, attributed the market’s gains to a combination of fundamental and technical factors.

He told Oman News Agency that the fundamental factors included higher oil prices, which supported the rise in the exchange’s main index amid renewed Gulf and foreign purchases. He added that the financial results of companies announced in July also contributed to the market’s gains during recent weeks.

Regarding technical factors, Waleed pointed to the declines recorded by the exchange during May, June and July, which brought share prices to attractive investment levels. This, combined with strong corporate results, helped attract a large number of local and international investors back to the Muscat Stock Exchange.

Waleed forecast further gains for the exchange towards the end of the third quarter of 2026, noting that the market is expected to be upgraded in the FTSE index, which could attract additional foreign investment from the region to the local market.

Bank Sohar International topped listed companies in terms of trading value during August at OMR 173.7 million, accounting for 17.8% of total trading value. OQ Basic Industries ranked second with OMR 167.4 million, followed by Bank Muscat with OMR 164.3 million, OQ Exploration and Production with OMR 115.7 million, and OQ Gas Networks with OMR 104 million, representing 10.6% of total trading value.

During August, the prices of 55 securities increased, while 44 declined and 17 remained unchanged.

Al Batinah Development and Investment recorded the highest gain, rising 23.3% to close at 74 baisa. Oman Finance Free Bonds 2022 gained 17.6% to close at 100 baisa, while Abraj Energy Services rose 16.4% to 410 baisa.

Oman Chromite gained 15.2% to close at OMR 3.630, while International Financial Investments rose 13.7% to 339 baisa.

National Aluminum Products recorded the largest decline, falling 50.5% to close at 149 baisa. Al Jazeera Services premium shares declined by around 20% to 629 baisa, while Salalah Mills fell 10.5% to 600 baisa. United Finance bonds declined 10.3% to 78 baisa, and Salalah Port Services dropped 9.8% to 476 baisa.

August also witnessed the listing of shares issued by Bank Sohar International as part of its capital increase through a rights issue. The move aims to raise the bank’s capital from OMR 702.5 million to OMR 849.6 million.

Meanwhile, the Ordinary General Assembly of OQ Exploration and Production approved the Board of Directors’ recommendation to distribute cash dividends for the second quarter of 2026 at 7.23 baisa per share, in addition to performance-related cash dividends of 4.8 baisa per share. The assembly also authorised the Board of Directors to approve and distribute cash dividends for the third quarter at 7.23 baisa per share.

Pearl Real Estate Investment Fund announced interim cash dividends for unit holders registered on August 31 at 5.5 baisa per unit.

Jabal Real Estate Investment Fund also announced that its Board of Directors had approved interim cash dividends for the second quarter at 1.825 baisa per unit.