The Qatar Stock Exchange Tuesday witnessed about 70% of the traded constituents in the red as the key index fell about 21 points.
Local retail investors turned net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index lost 0.19% to 10,762.99 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,790 points.
A higher than average selling pressure in the real estate and industrials counters was instrumental in the overall lull in the main bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR0.5bn or 0.08% dip to QR612.23bn, mainly on microcap segments.
The Gulf institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main market, which saw a total of 0.06mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.25mn changed hands across 24 deals.
The Arab individuals continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, whose year-to-date losses widened to 7.41%.
The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the main index in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.
Trade turnover and volumes were in the increase in the main market, while in the venture market, value grew amidst lower volumes.
The Total Return Index shrank 0.19%, All Share Index by 0.11% and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.76%.
The realty sector index tanked 1.41, industrials (0.77%) and banks and financial services (0.02%); while transport gained 1.06%, insurance (0.28%), consumer goods and services (0.27%) and telecom (0.25%).
Major losers in the main market included Al Khaleej Takaful, Widam Food, Dlala, Qatar Islamic Bank, Ezdan, QIIB, Masraf Al Rayan, Industries Qatar, Estithmar Holding, Ezdan, Barwa, Mazaya Qatar and United Development Company.
Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Commercial Bank, Nakilat, Woqod, Qatar Insurance and QNB were among the gainers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.
The local retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR22.13mn compared with net buyers of QR14.95mn on December 26.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened considerably to QR4.96mn against QR14.6mn the previous day.
The Gulf retail investors’ net buying eased marginally to QR0.09mn compared to QR0.31mn on Monday.
However, the foreign institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR12.83mn against net sellers of QR17.75mn on December 26.
The foreign individuals’ net buying expanded significantly to QR4.8mn compared to QR0.71mn the previous day.
The Arab institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.61mn against no major net exposure on Monday.
The domestic institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.09mnn compared with net sellers of QR3.86mn on December 26.
The Arab individuals’ net profit booking weakened markedly to QR1.25mn against QR8.92mn the previous day.
The main market saw a 12% jump in trade volume to 80.18mn shares, 48% in value to QR303.35mn and 58% in deals to 10,922.
In the juniour bourse, trade volumes shrank 43% to 0.13mn equities, while value more than doubled to QR0.99mn on more than doubled transactions to 100.
