The Qatar Stock Exchange Tuesday witnessed buying interests in the insurance, transport and industrials counters, yet it closed weak overall.
The Gulf institutions were increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index lost 22 points or 0.2% to 10,964.3 points, although it touched an intraday high of 11,030 points.
The telecom, real estate and consumer goods sectors witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 5.69%.
The domestic funds were net profit takers in the main bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR1.09bn or 0.18% decrease to QR620.66bn, mainly on microcap segments.
The local retail investors’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main bourse, which saw a total of 0.39mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR1.01mn changed hands across 23 deals.
The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.
Trade turnover declined amidst higher volumes in the main market, while in the venture market, both trade turnover and volumes were on the downswing.
The Total Return Index shed 0.2%, All Share Index by 0.14% and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.44%.
The telecom sector index tanked 1.54%, realty (0.74%), consumer goods and services (0.72%) and banks and financial services (0.12%); while insurance gained 0.47%, transport (0.45%) and industrials (0.13%).
More than 52% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market and included Qatar Islamic Insurance, Medicare Group, Ooredoo, Estithmar Holding, QIIB, Woqod, Barwa, Ezdan and Milaha. In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, QLM, Gulf Warehousing, Al Khaleej Takaful, Qatar National Cement, Nakilat, Masraf Al Rayan and Industries Qatar were among the gainers in the main market.
The Gulf institutions’ net selling increased perceptibly to QR5.41mn compared to QR4.54mn on December 19.
The domestic institutions were net sellers to the extent of QR1.62mn against net buyers of QR1.11mn the previous day.
The local retail investors’ net buying decreased noticeably to QR0.27mn compared to QR1.94mn on Monday.
However, the foreign funds’ net buying expanded markedly to QR5.43mn against QR3.88mn on December 19.
The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.65mn compared with net sellers of QR1.04mn the previous day.
The foreign individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR0.36mn against net sellers of QR0.77mn on Monday.
The Gulf retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.33mn compared with net profit takers of QR0.65mn on December 19.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight session.
Total trade volume in the main market was up 1% to 77.8mn shares, whereas value shrank 17% to QR301.96mn and deals by 25% to 11,494.
The venture market saw a 73% plunge in trade volumes to 0.03mn equities, 54% in value to QR0.24mn and 55% in transactions to 22.
The Gulf institutions were increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index lost 22 points or 0.2% to 10,964.3 points, although it touched an intraday high of 11,030 points.
