(ONA)—


The official price of Oman crude oil for June delivery reached US$111.44 per barrel today.

This represents an increase of US$6.57 compared to yesterday's price of US$104.87 per barrel.

It is worth noting that the monthly average price for Oman crude oil for April delivery stood at US$68.15 per barrel, marking a rise of US$5.98 from the March delivery price.

(ONA)-


Muscat Stock Exchange "MSX 30" index closed at 8,369.48 points today, up by 101.3 points, or 1.23 percent, from the previous session's close of 8,268.13 points.

Trading value fell to RO 88,510,079, a decrease of 15.5 percent from RO 76,611,870 recorded in the last session, according to the MSX's report.

Market capitalisation dropped by 0.387 percent from the previous trading day to approximately RO 38.43 billion.

Non-Omani investors recorded purchases worth RO 14,001,000, accounting for 15.82 percent of total trading value, while sales reached RO 8,323,000, or 9.40 percent. Net non-Omani investment consequently edged up by RO 5,679,000, or 6.42 percent.

Trading Economics-


The Bank of Canada left its overnight target rate steady at 2.25% in its April 2026 meeting, aligned with market expectations and its earlier guidance, and refrained from giving a clear direction on future rates due to the uncertain geopolitical backdrop. Inflation surged in March due to the increase in energy prices caused by the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Still, the BoC noted that higher energy prices have so far refrained from feeding through more broad sectors of the economy. Additionally, inflation expectations were impacted on the upside but remain anchored, warranting the hold in interest rates. The central bank's updated forecasts see GDP growth at 1.2% this year and 1.7% the next year, reflecting a robustness to the energy shocks being absorbed by the excess supply in the economy.

Trading Economics-


The benchmark KOSPI fell 1.38% to close at 6,599 on Thursday, snapping its multi-session rally as rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and surging oil prices prompted profit-taking. Brent crude climbed toward $120 per barrel, Broader regional weakness and caution after the Federal Reserve held rates steady while warning of elevated uncertainty also pressured sentiment. Losses were led by Samsung Electronics (-1.55%), Hyundai Motor (-4.23%), LG Energy Solution (-3.17%), and Doosan Enerbility (-1.93%). Meanwhile, investor confidence was initially supported by Samsung Electronics’ record first-quarter earnings, driven by robust AI-related chip demand, alongside stronger-than-expected results from major US technology firms that reinforced optimism over the global AI boom. The KOSPI posted strong double-digit gains for the month of April.

Trading Economics-


The RatingDog China General Manufacturing PMI climbed to 52.2 in April 2026 from 50.8 in March, above the expected 51. The latest reading marked the fastest expansion in the sector since December 2020, with output growing at its fastest pace since June 2024. Output expansion was driven by accelerated growth in new orders, which recorded its second-highest growth rate in nearly five years. Employment remained flat, while the backlog of work continued to rise, though at a slightly slower pace than the previous month. Supplier delivery times continued to lengthen as raw material shortages, delivery disruptions, rising input prices, and Middle East tensions weighed on supply chains. Input price inflation accelerated to the highest level in slightly over four years, due to higher raw material and oil prices. As a result, output price inflation rose to its highest level in four and a half years. Finally, business sentiment strengthened amid rising market demand.

Trading Economics-


The Shanghai Composite edged up 0.11% to close at 4,112 on Thursday, remaining at its strongest level in over a month, while the Shenzhen Composite ticked down 0.09% to 15,108. Despite the subdued daily performance, April marked a robust month for Chinese stocks. The Shanghai Composite climbed 5.66%, while the Shenzhen Component surged 12.09%, supported by stronger-than-expected PMI data and significant gains in technology stocks. Official data showed manufacturing PMI beat market expectations at 50.3 in April 2026, while a private survey revealed that the manufacturing PMI climbed to its highest level since December 2020 at 52.2. China’s strategic petroleum reserves and renewable energy investments are helping cushion the economy from external shocks linked to Middle East tensions. Technology stocks also boosted sentiment, with NAURA Technology Group jumping 5.15% after strong Q1 revenue and profit. China’s stock markets will be closed from May 1 to May 5 for the Labour Day holiday.

Trading Economics-


Saudi Arabia’s economy expanded 2.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, slowing sharply from a 5% growth in the previous quarter, preliminary data showed. This marked the weakest pace of expansion since the second quarter of 2024,a key route for roughly 20% of global oil and LNG supply. Growth in non-oil activities (2.8% vs 4.3% in Q4) and oil activities (2.3% vs 10.8%) decelerated sharply. Meanwhile, government activities rose 1.5%, rebounding from a 1.2% decline in the prior period. On a quarterly basis, GDP fell 1.5%, the first decline since the third quarter of 2023, following a 1.4% increase in the previous quarter. The IMF noted that the country is expected to be less heavily affected by the conflict than other Gulf states, given its ability to reroute part of its exports through alternative channels, alongside the relative resilience of its non-oil industrial sector.

Trading Economics-


The NZX 50 rose 133 points, or 1.0%, to close at 12,903 on Thursday, reversing earlier losses in morning trade and extending gains from the previous session, with all sectors trading in the green, led by real estate. The broader index tracked gains in US futures following earnings reports from some major tech stocks. PMI data from China, New Zealand's top trading partner, also lifted sentiment, with a private survey showing factory activity on the mainland grew at its fastest pace since 2020, though official data indicated a slight easing while remaining stronger than expected. Traders also welcomed the RBNZ's efforts to enhance transparency in monetary policy decisions, beginning to publish individual votes cast by Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members starting today. Among the top performers were Contact Energy (1.9%), Ebos Group (1.4%), F&C Investment (1.2%), ANZ Group (0.8%), and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (0.8%). For the month, the index was flat.

Trading Economics-


The S&P/ASX 200 fell 21 points or 0.2% to close at 8,666 on Thursday, the final trading day of April, marking its eighth straight decline and holding at a three-week low. Caution prevailed as markets braced for a possible 25bps rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia next week, following moves in February and March, with rates seen rising to 4.60% by September, the level last reached in 2011, amid persistent cost pressures. Inflation accelerated to 4.6% in March from 3.7%, staying above the RBA's 2–3% target. In the U.S., a divided Fed held rates steady on Wednesday amid a looming leadership change. Woolworths slumped 7.8%, dragging consumer staples after warning fiscal 2026 food earnings would miss the upper range amid fuel costs. Miners shed 2.7% as base metals weakened, with BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue down between 2.0% to 2.8%. Against the ongoing decline, local markets advanced 2.2% for the month, reversing a slump of nearly 8% in March, supported by strong bargain hunting.

Trading Economics-


The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.06% to close at 59,285, while the broader Topix Index dropped 1.19% to 3,727 on Thursday, extending losses from the prior session as oil prices rallied , Japan’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil imports added further pressure on the market. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve left its policy rate unchanged as widely expected, although four policymakers dissented from the decision. On the domestic front, data showed Japan’s industrial output unexpectedly declined in March, while retail sales came in stronger than anticipated. Significant losses were recorded among key index heavyweights, including Advantest (-5%), Fujikura (-4.9%), Mitsubishi UFJ (-2%), Mitsubishi Heavy (-3.8%), and Hitachi (-3.3%).

Trading Economics-


Turkey’s trade deficit widened sharply to USD 11.2 billion in March 2026 from USD 7.2 billion in the same month last year. This marks the largest trade gap since April 2025, as imports advanced 8.2% year-on-year to USD 33.1 billion, driven by higher purchases of capital goods (+7.8%), intermediate goods (+11.2%), and other goods (+249.6%). China remained the top import source, accounting for 14.4%, followed by Russia (10.6%), Germany (7.7%), and Switzerland (4.9%). Meanwhile, exports declined 6.4% to USD 21.9 billion, as sales fell in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (-5.6%) and manufacturing (-6.8%). Germany remained the top export destination, holding an 8.3% share of total outbound shipments, followed by the UK (6.5%), US (6.3%), Italy (5.6%), and France (4.5%). In the first three months of the year, the trade deficit rose to USD 28.7 billion from USD 22.5 billion in the corresponding period last year, as exports fell 3.2% while imports increased 4.7%.

Trading Economics-


Tourism revenues in Turkey increased 4.2% year-on-year to USD 9.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Individual expenditures accounted for USD 8.5 billion of total tourism income, while package tour expenditures constituted USD 1.2 billion. The largest share of spending was on food and beverages (27%), followed by international transportation (15.8%), accommodation (13%), and package tour (12.6%). Compared with the same quarter last year, spending on accommodation increased by 21.2%, health-related expenditures rose by 18.4%, and food and beverage spending grew by 13.7%.

Trading Economics-


The number of foreign visitors to Turkey rose by 5.01% year-on-year to 2.46 million in March 2026, following a 2.08% drop in the previous month. Arrivals increased from the top five source countries, namely Germany (40.48%), Russia (12.40%), Bulgaria (9.85%), the UK (17.73%), and Georgia (8.78%). Istanbul remained the most popular destination, accounting for 51.57% of total foreign tourist arrivals, followed by Antalya (14.60%) and Edirne (11.69%). For the first quarter of the year, total foreign arrivals grew by 2.21% to 6.84 million.

Trading Economics-


The Eurozone GDP expanded by 0.1% from the previous quarter in the first quarter of 2026, missing the market consensus of a 0.2% expansion, and slowing from the 0.2% increase from the earlier period. The data reflected pressure from the tight supply of energy that is essential for major economies in the currency bloc, after the outbreak of war in the Middle East halted flows of oil, its byproducts, and liquified natural gas. The inflationary pressure from shortage risks drove ECB policymakers to consider higher rates this year and its largest members to revise growth downwards. French GDP projections were trimmed and its Q1 GDP unexpectedly stalled (vs 0.2% in Q4), while Italy (0.2% vs 0.3%) revised its projection lower and hinted it may not meet its fiscal projections despite. In turn, the German GDP expanded faster (0.3% vs 0.2%) amid infrastructure and defense deficit spending. Slower output was also seen from the Netherlands (0.1% vs 0.4%).

Trading Economics-


Euro area annual inflation climbed to 3% in April 2026, the highest since September 2023, up from 2.6% in March and slightly above market expectations of 2.9%, according to a preliminary estimate. Energy costs soared 10.9%, the most since February 2023, driven by the Middle East conflict. Also, prices rose faster for non-energy industrial goods (0.8% vs 0.5%), and food, alcohol, and tobacco (2.5% vs 2.4%). On the other hand, services inflation slowed to 3.0%, from 3.2%. The core rate, excluding volatile energy, also cooled to 2.2% from 2.3%. Among the Eurozone’s largest economies, inflation accelerated in Germany (2.9% vs 2.8%), France (2.5% vs 2%), Italy (2.9% vs 1.6%) and Spain (3.5% vs 2.4%).