Oman- MSM shares slip on profit-booking 

(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) The local bourse slipped 0.47 per cent to close at 5,438.84 on profit-booking following a recent rally. Trading activity dipped significantly as compared to what was witnessed towards the tail-end of last week, with 10.4mn shares exchanging hands and turnover hovering around RO2.5mn.

Ahlibank attracted trading interest this session, yet closed neutral at 145bz, while other active stocks such as Bank Nizwa(-0.93 per cent at 107bz), Global Financial Investment (-3.30 per cent at 88bz) and Gulf Investment Services (-1.32 per cent at 75bz) closed in the red.

Al Hassan Engineering was by far the worst performer this session, shedding 9.79 per cent to close at 129bz after reporting a net loss for the first half of year. On the other hand, Oman Flour Mills (0.61 per cent at 493bz) and BankMuscat (0.19 per cent at 533bz) outperformed the market, closing in positive territory.

All the sectoral indices posted losses, led by the Financial index which closed down 0.5 per cent on the back of ONIC Holding (-2.16 per cent at 227bz) and National Bank of Oman (-0.38 per cent at 265bz).

The Services index followed closely, losing 0.43 per cent, as Omantel (-3.03 per cent at RO1.31) and Nawras (-1.06 per cent at 465bz) weighed. The Industrial index closed down 0.28 per cent.

By arrangement with National Bank of Oman