Muscat, August 29 (QNA) - The Financial Sector Index of the Muscat Stock Exchange reached its highest level in 18 years last week, closing at 13,383 points as investors increased their exposure to banking and investment companies, encouraged by improved financial results for the first half of the year.
The index climbed to the 13,000-point level in April, its highest since August 26, 2008, before extending its gains and surpassing 13,300 points on August 24.
The index's all-time high was recorded on June 8, 2008, when it exceeded 16,200 points, before subsequently declining and giving up part of its gains.
Elsewhere, the benchmark Muscat Stock Exchange Index gained nine points to close the week at 7,532 points. The Industrial Sector Index advanced 70 points, while the Sharia Index rose by around four points.
The Services Sector Index, meanwhile, declined by three points to close at 3,014 points.
The market capitalization of securities listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange posted a limited weekly decline of OMR 8.7 million, ending the week at OMR 38.3214 billion.
Trading value also fell to OMR 113.2 million during the week, compared with OMR 252.1 million in the previous week.
The number of executed transactions declined by 27 percent, from 42,000 to 31,095.
In terms of individual stocks, shares of 30 companies advanced during the week, while 36 declined and another 36 remained unchanged. (QNA)