Saturday 26 / September / 2026
Muscat: Industrial companies listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) recorded a positive performance during the week, with the shares of Oman Cement, Al Maha Ceramics, Salalah Mills, Gulf Mushroom Products, Oman Chlorine and a number of other industrial companies rising. The shares of these companies attracted investors interest ahead of the announcement of the preliminary financial results for the third quarter of this year.
The industrial sector index rose to 9,900 points, up 16 points, resuming its upward trend after declining the previous week, while other indices tended to decline, affected by the decline in investor sentiment amid continued geopolitical tensions in the region and their impact on Gulf stock exchanges.
The main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange declined by 49 points and closed at 7,554 points, declining for the second week in a row. The financial sector index recorded a decline of about 40 points, the services sector index declined by 20 points, and the Sharia index remained unchanged at its previous level of 623 points.
The Muscat Stock Exchange and the Gulf stock exchanges were affected last week by geopolitical developments in the region, which impacted the sentiment of individual investors and prompted them to sell.
Trading data issued by the Muscat Stock Exchange indicated that sales by individual investors accounted for about 20 percent of the total trading value during the week, compared to purchases of 17.2 percent.
The recorded declines reduced the gains in market capitalisation which rose to OMR39.41 billion, recording weekly gains estimated at OMR15.8 million.
Trading value during the week reached OMR172.9 million, compared to OMR202.9 million in the week before, registering a decline of 14.7 percent. The number of transactions executed rose to about 49,000 transactions, an increase of 18.6 percent from the previous week’s level of 41,000 transactions. The gains were on the back of benefiting from the increase in trading on the shares of OQ Gas Networks, which witnessed the execution of 9,684 transactions, OQ Basic Industries, which witnessed the execution of 8,858 transactions, and Bank Sohar International, which witnessed the execution of 8,734 transactions.
Bank Sohar topped the list of most traded companies in terms of trading value with OMR39.6 million, representing 22.9 percent of the total trading value. OQ Exploration and Production came in second with trades amounting to OMR27.3 million, Bank Muscat came in third with trades amounting to OMR24.6 million, Omantel came in fourth with trades amounting to OMR21.3 million and OQ Basic Industries came in fifth with trades amounting to OMR19.8 million Omani riyals, representing 11.4 percent of the total trading value.
During the week prices of 31 securities rose, compared to 34 securities whose prices declined and 30 securities that remained unchanged at their previous levels. Oman Refreshments shares recorded the highest gains, rising by 18.8 percent and closing at OMR1.200. Oman Arab Bank shares rose by 13.9 percent and closed at 319 rials. Dhofar Food and Investment shares climbed by about 13 percent, National Gas shares also rose by 7.8 percent while Oman Chromite shares recorded an increase of 7.3 percent.
Al Hassan Engineering (under liquidation) stock recorded the highest losses, declining by 16.6 percent and closing at 5 baisa. Building Materials Industry stock declined by 9.6 percent and closed at 75 baisa. Sohar Power stock fell to 190 baisa, declining by 9.5 percent. Asyad Shipping stock declined to 208 baisa, recording a drop of 7.9 percent. Fincorp Financial Center stock declined by 6.9 percent and closed at 94 baisa.
Company news
OQ Basic Industries has invited its shareholders to attend the Ordinary General Meeting scheduled for October 15 to discuss a proposal to distribute cash dividends to shareholders of 5.2 baisa per share for the first half of this year and a performance-related cash dividend of 2.6 baisa per share. These distributions come after the group's net profits rose in the first half of this year to OMR43.4 million, compared to OMR23.4 million in the same period last year.
Al Anqa Energy Company also invited its shareholders to attend the Ordinary General Assembly meeting scheduled for October 7, which will discuss the distribution of cash dividends to shareholders from the company's retained earnings at a rate of 81 baisa per share. The company recorded net profits of OMR13.3 million in the first half of this year, compared to OMR12.2 million in the same period last year. The audited financial statements for the first half of this year indicated that the company's retained earnings rose to OMR130.4 million by the end of last June, compared to OMR118.4 million in December and OMR109 million in June of last year.
