The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday gained about 68 points on the back of buying interests of foreign institutions.
The telecom and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.65% to 10,446.11 points.
The Gulf retail investors were seen bullish, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, which recovered from an intraday low of 10,369 points.
The local individuals’ substantially weakened net selling had its influence in the main market, whose year-to-date losses reduced further to 2.2%.
The Gulf institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR3.23bn or 0.53% to QR616.76bn with small cap segments gaining the most.
The domestic funds were seen net profit takers in the main market, which saw a total of 0.41mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR1mn changed hands across 31 deals.
The Arab retail investors turned bearish in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index rose 0.65%, the All Share Index by 0.53% and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.51% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover fell amidst higher volumes.
The telecom sector index shot up 1.61%, followed by banks and financial services (0.87%), transport (0.41%), real estate (0.33%) and consumer goods and services (0.05%); while insurance and industrials declined 0.77% and 0.06% respectively.
Major gainers in the main market included Qatar Oman Investment, Salam International Investment, Qatar Islamic Bank, Medicare Group, Ooredoo, Lesha Bank, Alijarah Holding, Mannai Corporation, Mazaya Qatar, Gulf Warehousing and Nakilat.
Nevertheless, Dlala, Beema, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Doha Insurance, Widam Food and Qatari German Medical Devices were among the shakers in the main market.
In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mahhar Holding saw their shares depreciate in value.
The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR15.43mn compared with net sellers of QR12.88mn on July 19.
The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the extent of QR0.14mn against net sellers of QR3.73mn on Wednesday.
The local retail investors’ net selling fell significantly to QR16.74mn compared to QR47.05mn the previous day.
However, the domestic institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR21.05mn against net buyers of 10.42mn on July 19.
The Arab retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR6.1mn compared with net buyers of QR0.69mn on Wednesday.
The foreign individuals' net profit booking increased marginally to QR4.77mn against QR4.38mn the previous day.
The Arab institutions were net sellers to the tune of QR0.28mn compared with no major net exposure on July 19.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened noticeably to QR33.37mn against QR56.95mn the previous day.
The main market saw a 13% jump in trade volumes to 282.3mn shares but on 6% decline in value to QR529.2mn amidst 4% increase in deals to 18,758.
In the venture market, trade volumes were up 4% to 0.25mn equities, value by 42% to QR0.54mn and transactions by 25% to 45.
