Saturday 18 / April / 2026
Muscat: The financial sector index on the Muscat Stock Exchange recorded an increase of 425 points during the week rising to above the 13,200 point level, benefiting from the rise in shares of a number of banks and investment companies in conjunction with the announcement of the preliminary financial results for the first quarter of this year.
The financial sector index closed at 13,294 points at the end of the week's trading, recording its best level since August 2008. The financial sector index climbed to the 13,000 point level for the first time on January 6, 2008, and continued its rise, exceeding 16,000 points in June of the same year, but it quickly declined and ended trading in 2008 at 6,620 points.
During the week, the Muscat Stock Exchange witnessed several gains that supported the financial sector index and the main index, with the prices of 48 securities rising, compared to 37 securities whose prices declined and 14 securities that remained unchanged at their previous levels.
The main index of the Muscat Stock Exchange rose 174 points during the week and closed at 8,336 points, while the sectoral indices were affected by a number of declines, with the industrial sector index falling to 10,073 points, down by 29 points. The services sector index also recorded a decline of 23 points while the Sharia index fell to 654 points, down by 13 points.
During the week, investors targeted Bank Sohar International shares, which closed at 236 baisa, up 14 baisa. Investors also targeted Bank Muscat shares, which approached the 500 baisa level before closing at 487 baisa, up 9 baisa during the week. Bank Dhofar shares rose 24 baisa and closed at 225 baisa after more than 500 transactions were executed, amounting to approximately OMR2.1 million.
The financial sector index also benefited from the rise in shares of International Financial Investments, which climbed to 343 baisa, up 33 baisa during the week. Shares of Ominvest also rose by 9 baisa and closed at 394 baisa, in addition to United Finance shares rising by 2 baisa and closing at 88 baisa.
The Muscat Stock Exchange recorded several gains in trading value and market capitalisation, with trading value rising by 39 percent to exceed OMR430.2 million compared to OMR309.1 million in the previous week. The number of transactions executed increased by 1.3 percent to 32,754, and the market capitalisation of securities listed on the exchange rose to OMR38.62 billion, recording weekly gains of OMR657.6 million.
Bank Sohar International topped the list of most traded companies in terms of trading value, with trades amounting to OMR124.1 million, representing 28.8 percent of the total trading value. OQ Basic Industries came in second place with trades valued at OMR96.9 million, Bank Muscat came in third place with trades valued at OMR56.8 million, OQ Exploration and Production came in fourth place with trades valued at OMR54.1 million and Omantel came in fifth place with trades amounting to OMR32.5 million, representing 7.5 percent of the total trading value.
The Financial Centre's stock recorded the highest gain, rising by 32 percent and closing at 66 baisa. Raysut Cement's stock rose by 20.8 percent and closed at 180 baisa. Oman and Emirates Investment Holding Company's stock climbed to 173 baisa, rising by 19.3 percent. Building Materials Industry Company's stock recorded an increase of 18.8 percent and closed at 82 baisa. Oman Fisheries Company's stock rose by 16.6 percent and closed at 28 baisa.
Al Madina Investment shares led the decliners, falling by 9.7 percent to close at 37 baisa. Al Safa Foods shares fell to 800 baisa, registering a decline of 9 percent. Oman Chlorine shares dropped by 8.2 percent to close at 200 baisa. Liva Group shares declined by 7.8 percent to close at 341 baisa. Renaissance Services shares fell to 378 baisa, registering a decline of 7.5 percent.
