MSX records new gains amid increased liquidity from local investors

26/10/2025 03:46 AST

The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) recorded new gains across its various indices during the week, amid increased liquidity from local institutional investors.

The main index rose by 80 points to close at 5,370 points, while sectoral indices registered a collective rise, with the exception of the industrial sector index, which fell by 44 points, affected by the decline in shares of a number of leading industrial companies, such as Voltamp Energy, Al Safa Foods, and Al Maha Ceramics.

The services sector index posted the highest gains, rising 87 points, or 4.1 percent, to close at 2,185 points, benefiting from rising energy stocks, which boosted their gains. The financial sector index rose by about 33 points, and the Shariah index registered a slight increase of one point, closing at 462 points.

During the week, the Muscat Stock Exchange recorded gains in its market value of more than OMR245 million, rising to OMR30.84 billion by the end of Thursday's trading, benefiting from the rise in the shares of several leading companies, most notably OQ Exploration and Production, which recorded gains of 21 baisas and closed at 345 baisas. The company's market value rose by the end of the week to OMR2.76 billion, recording weekly gains of OMR168 million.

Trading value increased by 19.3 percent to OMR287.4 million by the end of Thursday's trading session compared to OMR240.9 million in the previous week. The number of transactions executed increased to 41,623 compared to 25,171 transactions executed in the previous week. Bank Sohar International topped the most traded companies with OMR69.8 million, capturing 24.3 percent of the total trading value. OQ Gas Networks came in second place with OMR46.4 million, while OQ Basic Industries came in third with OMR44.9 million. Bank Muscat came in fourth with OMR 38.5million, and Asyad Shipping came in fifth place with trading worth OMR32.9 million in transactions, representing 11.4 percent of the total trading value.

During the week, prices of 35 securities rose, while 28 declined and 24 remained unchanged. Salalah Port Services recorded the highest gains, rising by 25 percent to close at 300 baisas. Oman Refreshments came in second place, rising to 1.492 baisas, recording a 20.9 percent increase. Al Suwadi Energy rose by 16.2 percent to close at 165 baisas. Al Batinah Energy rose by 15.9 percent to close at 167 baisas. Al Phoenix Energy rose to 150 baisas, recording a 10.2 percent increase. Al Maha Ceramics was the top loser, declining by 8.6 percent to close at 265 baisas. Leva Group declined by 6.7 percent to close at 275 baisas, and Al Anwar Investments fell to 97 baisas, recording a 5.8 percent decline.

In company news: OQ Exploration and Production Company announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, OQ Exploration and Production New Ventures, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a subsidiary of the Malaysian Petronas Group. The MoU aims to establish a framework for strategic cooperation between the two parties on international exploration and production projects in the oil and gas sectors. The agreement reflects the two parties' shared ambitions to expand their global presence and explore opportunities for mutual cooperation in the fields of exploration and production.

Times of Oman