Muscat Stock Exchange Index Hits Highest Level in Nine Years

Muscat – December 13, 2025
The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) recorded its highest level in more than nine years, with the main index rising to 5,961 points during trading on December 9, marking its strongest performance since May 2016.

The rally was driven by strong demand for equities ahead of the close of 2025, reflecting improved investor sentiment. By the end of the week, the main index closed at 5,949 points, posting weekly gains of 88 points.

Market performance was broadly positive, with prices rising for 64 listed securities. Sectoral indices also advanced, led by the financial sector, which gained 337 points, followed by the industrial sector with an increase of 223 points, and the services sector, up 50 points. The Shariah index also rose by around 12 points.

During the same period, the market capitalization of listed securities increased by OMR 213.6 million (approximately USD 555 million) to reach OMR 32.1995 billion (around USD 83.7 billion). Although weekly trading value declined by 7.5% to OMR 199.4 million (about USD 518 million) compared with the previous week, turnover remained near the OMR 200 million level, supported by continued demand for blue-chip stocks, particularly in the banking, industrial and OQ Group sectors. The number of executed trades edged down from 25,620 to 25,108 transactions.

Bank Muscat accounted for 19.3% of total trading value, with transactions worth OMR 38.6 million (around USD 100 million). It was followed by Sohar International Bank with OMR 30.1 million (about USD 78 million), OQ Base Industries with OMR 26.9 million (around USD 70 million), OQ Exploration & Production with OMR 26.4 million (around USD 69 million), and Asyad Shipping, which recorded OMR 21.5 million (about USD 56 million), representing 10.8% of total turnover.

Among top gainers, Building Materials Industry shares led the market, rising 21.2% to close at 80 baisas, followed by Bank of Oman Arab (+17.3%), National Gas Company (+11.7%), Voltamp Energy (+11.2%), and Ahli Bank, which rose 11.1%.

On the downside, prices of 10 securities declined, led by Liwa mandatory convertible bonds 2024, which fell 20% to 72 baisas. Shares of Dhofar Food and Investment, Liwa Group, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, and Bank Dhofar also recorded moderate declines.

In corporate news, the extraordinary general meeting of Al Anwar Investments approved an increase in the company’s authorized capital from OMR 30 million (around USD 78 million) to OMR 50 million (approximately USD 130 million). The company reported net profits of OMR 130,000 (about USD 338,000) for the first half of its current financial year, and its share closed the week at 101 baisas.