Shares fall on profit-booking

Muscat: Shares on the Muscat bourse declined on profit booking on Sunday. The MSM30 Index retreated 0.41 per cent to close lower at 5,914.62 points, down by 0.27 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index fell by 0.25 per cent to close at 884.19 points.
Bank Sohar was most active in terms of volume, while Oman Cables was the most active in terms of turnover. The top gainer was Oman Telecommunications Company, up by 0.93 per cent, while Al Hassan Engineering was the top loser, down by 3.33 per cent.
As many as 573 trades were executed today, generating turnover of OMR2.41million with 9.66 million shares changing hands. Out of 47 traded securities, three advanced, 22 declined and 22 remained unchanged. Omani investors were net buyers to the tune of OMR175,000 followed by GCC and Arab investors at OMR51,000. Foreign investors, who were net sellers, sold shares amounting to OMR225,000.
Financial Index closed at 7525.41 points, down by 0.66 per cent. Al Anwar Holding was the only gainer in the sector and was up by 0.87 per cent to close at OMR0.231. Muscat National Holding, Al Sharqiya Investment, Al Madina Takaful, HSBC Bank Oman and Oman United Insurance declined by 3.23 per cent, 2.84 per cent, 2.67 per cent, 1.87 per cent and 1.57 per cent, respectively.
Industrial Index fell by 0.57 per cent to close at 7,273.63 points. National Alumininum was the only gainer and was up by 0.40 per cent to close at OMR0.250.AlHassan Engineering, Construction Material Industries, Galfar Engineering and Oman Cables declined by 3.33 per cent, 3.13 per cent, 2.75 per cent and 2.47 per cent, respectively.
Services Index closed at 3,265.72 points, down by 0.24 per cent. Omantel was the only gainer and was up by 0.93 per cent to close at OMR1.610. Renaissance Services, OIFC, Al Jazeera Services and Al Maha Petroleum declined by 2.08 per cent, 0.99 per cent, 0.87 per cent and 0.65 per cent, respectively.