BankMuscat (SAOG), the nation's leading financial services institution, announced the preliminary results for the period ended September 30, 2008.

BSF has posted SR2,236m net income for the nine months of 2008, SR165m (+8%) more than the net income at the end of nine months of 2007 where income posted was SR2,071m.

Fitch Ratings has today affirmed HSBC Bank Middle East's (HBME) ratings at Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) 'AA-' (AA minus), Short-term IDR 'F1+', Individual 'B' and Support '1'. The Outlook remains stable.