Muscat, January 03 (QNA) - Trading activity on the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) reached record levels in 2025, exceeding OMR 5 billion, supported by strong buying interest from local investment funds and institutions, alongside positive corporate developments and improved financial performance among listed public joint-stock companies.

The total value of trades rose to OMR 5.042 billion in 2025, compared with OMR 1.257 billion in 2024 and OMR 1.132 billion in 2023. Trading turnover during 2025 alone exceeded the cumulative value recorded over the previous five years since 2020, which stood at around OMR 4.5 billion.

The MSX began 2025 with trading value of OMR 75.3 million in January. Volumes accelerated sharply to OMR 467.8 million by July and increased further to OMR 524.8 million thereafter. October recorded the highest monthly trading value at OMR 1.074 billion. Total turnover in the first half of the year amounted to OMR 917.2 million, before surging to OMR 4.125 billion in the second half, driven by increased purchases from local funds and institutional investors, as well as additional liquidity injected by market makers.

The exchange also witnessed a sharp rise in trading activity indicators. The total number of securities traded -including equities, bonds, sukuk, units, and rights issues- jumped to 25.3 billion securities in 2025, up from 6.5 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, the number of executed transactions increased from 257,000 trades to more than 672,000 trades.

Market capitalization of securities listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange climbed by approximately 16 percent in 2025, surpassing OMR 32 billion, compared with about OMR 27.6 billion in 2024.

At the index level, the MSX main index gained 28.2 percent to close at 5,866 points, an increase of 1,290 points over the year. Sector indices also delivered strong performances: the industrial sector index rose by more than 2,575 points to end the year at 7,846 points; the financial sector index advanced 2,183 points to close at 9,908 points; and the services sector index climbed to 2,405 points, up by 662 points. The Sharia-compliant index increased by 100 points, closing at 525 points. (QNA)