BankMuscat Funds receive 'AA' and 'A' ratings from Standard & Poors

The Fund's, which are managed by the Bank's asset management unit, are amongst the foremost mutual funds in the Sultanate of Oman.

Commenting on the Oryx Fund, which seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation opportunities to investors through maintaining a diversified portfolio in stocks listed on GCC stock markets, Standard & Poors said:

"The (investment) approach is very methodical and structured, emphasizing bottom-up selection of companies with low PEG ratios and good management. A standard template is used to value each company and the team has developed an in-house database with models on each company followed.... we are impressed by this experienced team and its clear and robust investment process. The Fund consequently achieves a Standard & Poors AA rating."

The Oryx Fund, it may be noted, turned in returns of 32% on its Net Asset Value (NAV) since the beginning of the year, thereby outperforming most of the GCC market indices.
Commenting on the Muscat Fund, the country's leading open-ended Oman focussed fund, Standard & Poors said "Performance has been good, and the fund outpaced its benchmark in each calendar year since 2003 through sound stock selection. The team is amongst the most experienced in the region and has created a disciplined and effective approach, which has been adapted to this less flexible mandate. The fund achieves an Standard & Poors rating."

The Net Asset Value (NAV) of the Muscat Fund appreciated by 43% since the beginning of the year. The fund offers investors easy access to a diversified basket of securities listed on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM).

Both the funds offer daily liquidity and also offers Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), a unique plan wherein investors can put in small sum every month without having to worry about timing the market.

Standard & Poor's Fund Management Ratings are used as a selection tool by many of the world's leading institutional and private client investors. By assigning ratings to no more than 20% of funds within each sector, investors and their advisors have the confidence that they are choosing quality funds that best meet their client requirements.