Saturday 21 / March / 2026
Muscat: The main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange maintained its gains during the week, rising for the second week in a row, while the performance of sectoral indices varied as annual general assemblies approved dividend distributions and Gulf financial markets were affected by the geopolitical conditions in the region.
The main index closed at the end of the week’s trading at 7,765 points, up 26 points. The services sector index recorded the best performance, rising 78 points, or 2.6 percent, and closing at 3,040 points, benefiting from the rise in shares of Omantel, energy companies, and a number of other companies.
The industrial sector index rose by about 58 points and closed at 9,747 points, driven by the rise in shares of Al Jazeera Steel Products, Oman Cement, Oman Flour Mills and a number of other industrial companies, while the financial sector index declined by 76 points, affected by the decline in bank shares, and the Sharia index recorded a decline of about 4 points, concluding the week's trading at 647 points.
Shares of several companies were affected by the approval of dividend distributions during the past two weeks, at a time when events in the region put pressure on Gulf financial markets.
Bank Muscat’s Annual General Meeting during the week approved a cash dividend of 18 baisa per share, while the bank’s Extraordinary General Meeting approved an increase in authorised capital from OMR800 million to OMR1.2 billion. The bank’s paid-up capital currently stands at OMR750.6 million. Bank Muscat achieved net profits of OMR255.5 million last year compared to OMR225.5 million in 2024.
During the week, the Annual General Meeting of Al Sharqiyah Desalination Company approved the distribution of cash dividends of 15 baisa per share. Muscat Thread Mills Company approved the distribution of cash dividends of 12.5 baisa per share and the distribution of bonus shares at a rate of 5 percent of the capital, equivalent to 5 shares for every 100 shares, as part of the company’s plans to increase its capital.
The week also saw the holding of the annual general meeting of the Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company (Ooredoo), which approved the distribution of cash dividends of 11.53 baisa per share, and the annual general meeting of OQ Basic Industries approved the distribution of cash dividends of 4.93 baisa per share for the second half of the financial year ending on December 31st.
Salalah Port Services Company approved the distribution of cash dividends of 15 baisa per share, and public shareholding companies will resume holding their annual general meetings after the Eid Al Fitr holiday.
The week also saw 4 trading days during which 18,000 transactions were executed with a trading value of OMR246.9 million, compared to about 34,000 transactions executed in the previous week with a value exceeding OMR415 million.
The market capitalisation of the Muscat Stock Exchange remained stable at the close of weekly trading, at its previous level of OMR37.2 billion.
Ominvest topped the list of most traded companies in terms of trading value with OMR66.6 million, representing about 27 percent of the total trading value. The company said that the board of directors decided not to proceed with the sale of 80 percent of Ominvest’s stake in Jabreen Investment Projects Company, along with some international investments, to a strategic investor, noting that this would not have any impact on the company’s financial position.
Bank Muscat ranked second among the most traded companies in terms of trading value with OMR50.7 million, while Bank Sohar International ranked third with traded value of OMR31.3 million, OQ Gas Networks ranked fourth with traded value of OMR23.4 million Omani riyals, and OQ Exploration and Production ranked fifth with trades worth OMR23.3 million.
The week saw the prices of 36 securities rise, compared to 39 securities whose prices declined and 18 securities that remained unchanged at their previous levels. The Financial Services Company's stock recorded the highest rise, increasing by 31.3 percent and closing at 176 baisa. Al Anqa Energy's stock rose by 15.7 percent and closed at 176 baisa, and Al Suwadi Energy's stock rose by 12.8 percent and also closed at 176 baisa.
Muscat Insurance shares led the losing stocks, declining by 10 percent and closing at 558 baisa. Raysut Cement shares fell by about 7 percent and closed at 133 baisa, and Oman Finance Services shares dropped to 180 baisa, recording a decline of 6.7 percent.
