Investors showed growing interest in banking, financial and industrial stocks on the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) throughout September 2026. Improving sector performance and expectations surrounding upcoming third-quarter financial results supported buying activity. Despite these gains, the exchange’s main index declined slightly, while overall market capitalisation increased.
Financial and industrial stocks gain
September trading saw the financial sector index climb 220 points, closing above 13,600 points, supported by banking, investment, finance and insurance companies. Meanwhile, the industrial index gained approximately 200 points to reach 9,812 points, benefiting from stronger performances by Oman Cement, Oman Chlorine, Voltamp Energy and Al Jazeera Steel Products. Of the securities traded, 54 recorded price increases, 41 declined and 13 remained unchanged.
However, the benchmark MSX index slipped 37 points to 7,566, while the services index lost 51 points, closing at 3,009. Market capitalisation rose by approximately OMR590 million to OMR39.23 billion, supported by gains among closed companies and parallel-market listings. Total trading value fell 6.4% to OMR914 million from August’s OMR976.5 million, although executed transactions increased from 178,000 to 199,000.
Most actively traded stocks
Sohar International Bank dominated September trading, generating OMR224.4 million, equivalent to 24.5% of total turnover. OQ Basic Industries followed with OMR175.8 million, ahead of Omantel (OMR99.1 million), OQ Gas Networks (OMR98.7 million) and OQ Exploration and Production (OMR98.3 million). Dhofar Food and Investment and Oman Chromite led the gainers, each rising 32.2%, followed by Oman Arab Bank at 31.2%.
Conversely, National Aluminium Products suffered the steepest decline at 32.8%, while Asyad Shipping and Sohar Power dropped 14.6% and 13.6%, respectively. Bond and sukuk trading also weakened, falling 42% to OMR779,000 across 475 transactions. Nevertheless, Omani Finance Services 2026 bonds gained 18.4%, leading the fixed-income market.
