Omani Individual Investors Boost Buying Activity on Muscat Stock Exchange Post-Q1 Results

Omani individual investors increased their buying activity on the Muscat Stock Exchange during weekly trading, following the completion of first-quarter financial results announcements. This increased buying occurred even as the main index experienced a decline. Individual Omani investors were net buyers during the week, acquiring shares that represented 20.7 percent of the total trading value. Their purchases amounted to OMR80.6 million. During the week, individual Omani investors purchased shares worth OMR80.6 million, representing 22.1 percent of the total trading value. Concurrently, individual Omani investors sold shares worth OMR75.3 million, representing 20.7 percent of the total trading value, as Omani individual investors turned to buying on the Muscat Stock Exchange. The Muscat Stock Exchange's main index closed at 8,350 points, registering a decline of approximately 19 points by the end of the trading period. This investor behavior reflects a reaction to the recently released financial performance data from listed companies.

Market Structure Overhaul

The Muscat Stock Exchange initiated its annual evaluation by redistributing companies across its regular, parallel, and follow-up markets. This redistribution of companies across the regular, parallel, and follow-up markets was part of its annual evaluation, a process undertaken by the Muscat Stock Exchange. A new amendment to the distribution of public shareholding companies across market divisions came into effect on May 7. As a result, 19 companies were transferred from the parallel market to the main market, while one company moved from the main market to the parallel market. Additionally, two companies were transferred from the follow-up market to the parallel market.

These reclassifications led to an increase in the number of companies listed on the main market, rising from 24 to 43. Conversely, the number of companies listed on the parallel market decreased from 72 to 56, and the follow-up market saw its listed companies fall from 17 to 14. Amid these structural changes, Dhofar Food and Investment shares rose by 17.7 percent, closing at 206 baisa. Sembcorp Salalah shares also increased, gaining 9.5 percent to close at 263 baisa. In contrast, Omantel stock experienced a decline of 4.5 percent, closing at OMR1.479. The Financial Centre (Fincorp) stock experienced a decline of 15.3 percent, closing at 105 baisa. Oman Chlorine stock also declined by 7.1 percent, closing at 195 baisa.

Trading Performance and Sector Indices

The number of transactions executed during the week increased by 11.7 percent, rising from 27,000 to more than 30,000 transactions. Despite the rise in transaction volume, the value of trading saw a slight decline of 1.7 percent, decreasing from OMR370.1 million to OMR363.6 million. The market capitalisation of securities listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange also declined at the end of the week’s trading, reaching OMR38.33 billion and recording weekly losses of OMR93.6 million.

Sector indices showed varied performance. The services sector index recorded the highest gains, rising 61 points to close at 3,328 points. The financial sector index also rose, increasing by 28 points to close at 13,267 points. Similarly, the industrial sector index gained 23 points, closing at 10,214 points. The Sharia index registered an increase of 6 points, ending the week at 662 points.

Among individual securities, Ahli Bank’s 2025 bonds rose by 14.2 percent, closing at 120 baisa. Conversely, The Financial Centre (Fincorp) stock experienced a decline of 15.3 percent, closing at 105 baisa. Bank Muscat stock also declined by 3.7 percent, closing at 458 baisa.

Top Movers and Market Activity

Individual Omani investors purchased shares worth OMR80.6 million during the week, accounting for 22.1 percent of the total trading value. OQ Exploration and Production topped the list of most traded companies with a trading value of OMR67.2 million, representing 18.4 percent of the total trading value. Despite this high trading volume, OQ Exploration and Production stock recorded a weekly decline of 7 baisa. Bank Muscat shares saw significant trading valued at OMR66.1 million, which constituted 18.1 percent of the total trading value. Bank Sohar International followed with trading valued at OMR56.3 million, representing 15.5 percent of the total trading value. OQ Basic Industries registered a trading value of OMR51.1 million, while Omantel had a trading value of OMR43.9 million.

During the week, 43 securities experienced price increases. Conversely, 36 securities saw their prices fall. The prices of 18 securities remained unchanged from their previous levels. Oman Arab Bank’s mandatory conversion bonds recorded the highest gains, rising by 48.3 percent to close at OMR1.500. Abraj Energy Services shares also rose, gaining 10.4 percent and closing at 495 baisa.