Muscat Securities Market closes 14 points lower

MUSCAT: Muscat Securities Market (MSM) general index 30 on Thursday lost 14 points, comprising a decline by 0.24 per cent to close at 5,750.96 points, compared to the last session, which closed at 5,764.96 points. The trading value stood at RO 4,676,872, comprising a decline by 7.6 per cent compared to the last session, which stood at RO 5,063,233. The report released by MSM pointed out that the market value rose by 0.793 per cent to reach about RO 17.61 billion. The report added that the value of shares bought by non-Omani investors reached RO 308,000, comprising 6.58 per cent. The value of shares sold by non-Omani investors reached RO 1,738,000 comprising 37.16 per cent. The net non-Omani investment declined by 30.58 per cent to RO 1,430,000. CRUDE RISES Oman oil prices (March delivery) closed at $54.07 on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange on Thursday. A DME statement said that the price rose 47 cents over Wednesday’s closing of $53.60. The average price of Oman oil (February delivery) has averaged at $52.72, thus $8.18 per barrel higher than January delivery. — ONA