Saturday 04 / July / 2026
Muscat: The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) recorded the highest level of transactions executed during the current year in June, exceeding 159,600 transactions, compared to 107,000 in May and 131,000 in April. This rise coincided with a decline in share prices and investors' eagerness to buy in order to take advantage of the price levels to which shares fell in May and June.
The Muscat Stock Exchange witnessed an increase in the number of transactions executed on several stocks whose prices declined last month. OQ Gas Networks saw more than 30,000 transactions executed, compared to 17,000 in May, coinciding with a 6.7 percent decrease in the share price from 238 baisa to 222 baisa. The number of transactions executed on OQ Basic Industries rose to 29,000 transactions, compared to 16,000 in May, while the share price declined from 260 baisa to 248 baisa. Transactions executed on Bank Sohar International increased from 13,000 transactions to 26,000, and the share recorded a decline of 12 baisa last month, closing at 195 baisa.
The declines recorded by stocks last June led to the main index falling 249 points for the second consecutive month after losing 612 points in May. The main index closed at the end of June trading at 7,507 points, thus erasing the gains it had recorded in March and April when it jumped above the 8000-point level.
The industry, services and Sharia indices were affected by the declines recorded by stocks, with the services sector index losing 124 points, the Sharia index recording a decline of 25 points, and the industry sector index declining by 15 points. Meanwhile, the financial sector index managed to rise by about 189 points and closed at 13,085 points, benefiting from the rise in the shares of banks and many investment, finance and insurance companies listed in the index sample, most notably the National Bank of Oman, the National Bank of Oman, Oman Arab Bank, Ominvest, United Finance and Oman United Insurance. The recorded rises were reflected in the index, which resumed its rise after declining by 342 points in May.
In terms of trading, the Muscat Stock Exchange recorded its lowest trading value this year in June at OMR776.1 million, compared to OMR1.047 billion in May and OMR1.541 billion in April. This decline coincided with investors' move to provide additional liquidity to subscribe to the shares of the Oman India Fertilizer Company (Omifco), which offered 25 percent of its capital for public subscription from June 16 to 25. Trading value is expected to rise this month after the company's listing on the Muscat Stock Exchange on July 8, and the return of surplus funds from the subscription to investors, with expectations of reinvesting them in the stock exchange.
Bank Muscat topped the list of most traded companies in terms of trading value, with trades worth OMR168.1 million, representing 21.6 percent of the total trading value. OQ Basic Industries came in second with trades worth OMR137.8 million, while Bank Sohar International came in third with trades worth OMR130.5 million. OQ Gas Networks came in fourth with trades worth OMR87.4 million, and OQ Exploration and Production came in fifth with trades worth OMR70.2 million, representing 9 percent of the total trading value.
During the month of June, the prices of 37 securities rose, compared to 58 securities whose prices declined, and 14 securities remained unchanged at their previous levels. The Omani Education and Training Investments stock recorded the highest rise, increasing by 16.1 percent and closing at OMR1.800. Galfar Engineering and Contracting stock rose by 12.2 percent and closed at 184 baisa. The Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing stock rose to 1.229 riyals, increasing by 11.7 percent. The National Bank stock also rose by 11.7 percent and closed at 210 baisa. The Dhofar Food and Investment stock recorded an increase of 11.2 percent and closed at 207 baisa.
Voltamp Energy shares led the decliners after splitting the nominal value of the share from 100 baisa to 10 baisa, closing at the end of last month's trading at 174 baisa compared to 1 rial and 945 baisa at the end of May. Al Hassan Engineering shares (under liquidation) fell by 50 percent and closed at 4 baisa. Muscat Insurance shares dropped by 29.2 percent and closed at 580 baisa. Leva's mandatory convertible bonds issued in 2024 fell by 27.2 percent and closed at 80 baisa. Oman Finance Services bonds issued in 2026 recorded a decline of 25 percent and closed at 75 baisa.
