Muscat – The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) has released its updated annual list of securities eligible for market making activities. The list specifies the securities on which market makers will provide continuous buy and sell orders, aiming to enhance liquidity, improve trading efficiency, and narrow bid-ask spreads.

This year’s list shows a notable expansion, with the number of eligible securities increasing from 13 last year to 22. The growth reflects higher liquidity levels, increased trading activity, and a broader range of securities meeting the regulatory and technical requirements for market making.

The eligible securities are distributed across sectors as follows: 11 companies from the services sector, nine from the financial sector, one from the industrial sector, and one investment fund. This sectoral diversification contributes to deeper market liquidity and more balanced trading activity, the MSX said in a press statement.

Market making is a key mechanism supporting the efficiency of capital markets. Market makers provide continuous buy and sell orders for designated securities, helping improve liquidity, facilitate efficient price discovery, ensure orderly trading, and reduce unwarranted price volatility. This activity also strengthens the market’s ability to absorb investor orders and execute trades more effectively, particularly for securities requiring additional liquidity support.

Over the past year, market making activity at MSX has made significant progress, with ten liquidity provision agreements concluded with listed companies. These agreements form part of ongoing efforts to deepen trading activity and improve liquidity across eligible securities.

Additionally, the number of licensed and registered companies authorised to manage market making activities has reached six, reflecting growing institutional interest and the increasing role of market making in strengthening the exchange’s operational structure and efficiency, in line with international best practices.

MSX emphasised that the list is issued annually based on defined criteria, including liquidity levels, trading volumes, and the consistency of trading activity. The updated list took effect from January 1, 2026, and all relevant parties are expected to comply with the applicable regulatory frameworks.

The expansion of securities eligible for market making reaffirms MSX’s commitment to developing the market, enhancing liquidity tools, and fostering a deeper and more efficient trading environment. These initiatives aim to serve investors, support market stability over the medium and long term, and reinforce the Exchange’s position as a well-regulated investment platform capable of accommodating future growth.