Muscat, October 31 (QNA) - The total market capitalization of the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) fell to OMR 38.589 billion at the close of trading last week, registering weekly losses of OMR 96 million.

The exchange's main index considerably narrowed its weekly losses, shedding 33 points, compared with declines of approximately 300 and 154 points in the preceding two weeks, respectively.

The improvement was underpinned by increased purchases by local investment funds and institutions and individual Omani investors, alongside better performance by shares of several leading companies.

Trading data released by MSX showed that trading value surged 48 percent last week to OMR 318.9 million, up from OMR 214.7 million the previous week. The number of executed transactions, meanwhile, remained steady at approximately 75,000 for the second consecutive week.

Purchases by local investment funds and institutions climbed to OMR 244.3 million, compared with OMR 162.6 million the previous week. Buying by individual Omani investors also rose to OMR 41.3 million, up from OMR 30.2 million.

Among the sectoral indices, the Industrial Sector Index sustained the steepest losses, shedding 116 points, followed by the Financial Sector Index, which declined 98 points. The Services Sector Index, meanwhile, edged up 11 points, buoyed by gains in energy stocks following companies' announcements of several positive developments.

The Sharia Index also posted a marginal gain of less than one point, closing at 609 points. Weekly trading saw 53 securities decline, while 24 advanced and 17 remained unchanged. (QNA)