Oman- MSM30 positive on improved activity 

(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) The MSM30 index opened the week on a positive note adding 0.18 per cent to close at 5,473.48.

Trading activity improved significantly as 17.84mn shares exchanged hands and total market turnover reached RO6.6mn, with trading centered on financial sector stocks.

Gulf Investment Services (3.80 per cent at 82bz) was highly active, posting strong gains for the second consecutive session. Other active stocks included Global Financial Investment (2.15 per cent at 95bz) and Bank Nizwa, which closed neutral at 108bz.

Al Hassan Engineering (2.22 per cent at 138bz), Ahlibank (2 per cent at 153bz) and Renaissance Services (1.81 per cent at 451bz) were among the gainers this session, as the latter was buoyed by news of a new contract win.

On the other hand, the session's worst performers included A'Saffa Foods (-1.75 per cent at 450bz), HSBC Bank Oman (-1.29 per cent at 230bz) and Galfar Engineering (-1.06 per cent at 374bz).

The Financial index closed up 0.52 per cent on the back of heavyweight BankMuscat (0.94 per cent at 536bz) while Galfar and Jazeera Steel (-0.71 per cent at 280bz) pressured the Industrial index, which shed 0.13 per cent. The Services index gained 0.15 per cent.

By arrangement with National Bank of Oman