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Muscat Stock Exchange index rebounds past 5,100 as banking and energy stocks power gains

The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) regained momentum last week after a brief dip, with local investment funds and institutions driving buying activity that lifted the main index by 41 points to close at 5,123.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Saturday, September 20, 2025

MUSCAT : The rebound was supported by strong performances in banking, industrial, and energy stocks, helping the bourse reclaim the 5,100-point level. The industrial index led sectoral gains with a 34-point rise, followed by services (18 points) and financials (17 points). The Shariah index, however, edged down slightly to 471 points.

Market capitalization climbed back to RO 30.143 billion, adding over RO 200 million in value from the previous week. Trading value reached RO 79.8 million across 16,427 transactions, while the number of advancing stocks (33) nearly matched decliners (34), with 24 remaining flat.

Investors focused on blue-chip names including Bank Muscat, Bank Sohar International, National Bank of Oman, OQ Gas Networks, Al Safa Foods, Salalah Mills, and energy players Al Anqa Power, Al Batinah Power, and Al Suwadi Power. OQ Exploration and Production topped activity with trades worth RO 16.5 million (20.6% of total value), followed by Bank Sohar International (RO 14.9 million) and OQ Basic Industries (RO 12 million).

Oman Packaging Company was the week’s star performer, surging 10.4% to 158 baisas. Al Maha Petroleum gained 8% to 990 baisas, while Al Anqa Energy advanced 6.4% to 115 baisas. On the downside, Dhofar Food and Investment shed 10% to 63 baisas, Fincorp fell 8.7% to 42 baisas, and Raysut Cement lost 7.6% to 85 baisas.

Trading data showed Omani individual investors increased their selling, accounting for 23.4% of total trades against purchases of 17.8%. Institutional investors, however, stepped in with heavy buying, capturing 76.5% of the value and curbing their sales to 71.1%.

OQ Gas Networks proposed cash dividends of 5.6 baisas per share for H1 2025, subject to shareholder approval in October. The firm had previously distributed 4.92 baisas in March. Its stock closed at 162 baisas, up four baisas for the week, with a market cap of RO 701.5 million.

Meanwhile, the bonds and sukuk market remained muted, with trading value dropping to RO 30,000 from RO 87,000 a week earlier. Leva’s 2024 mandatory convertible bonds gained 1.4% to 71 baisas, while Ominvest’s 2024 bonds fell 10.5% to 76 baisas.

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