The real estate, transport and banking counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index fell 207 points or 1.96% this week which saw the QSE launch covered short selling as well securities lending and borrowing mechanisms to spruce up the market.
The local retail investors’ net profit booking pressure was instrumental in an overall bearish overhang on the main bourse this week which saw the listing of Meeza as the 51st constituent.
The foreign retail investors were seen bearish in the main market this week which saw the QSE acting chief executive officer Abdulaziz Nasser al-Emadi disclose about three more listings in this year.
About 69% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse this week which saw FTSE Russell include Dukhan Bank and Qatari German Medical Devices in its mid and microcap indices.
The Gulf institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main market this week which saw Aamal Service bag QR15.4mn contract from the Ministry of Municipality.
The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main index this week which saw Estithmar Holding sign a memorandum of understanding with Ooredoo Qatar.
The foreign funds continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.04mn Masraf Al Rayan-sponsored exchange-traded fund QATR worth QR0.08mn trade across 11 deals.
The domestic institutions were seen bullish in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.03mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.31mn change hands across 20 transactions.
Market capitalisation eroded QR9.03bn or 1.45% to QR612.31bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw the banks and industrials sectors together constitute about 58% of the total trade volume in the main market.
The Total Return Index shed 1.96%, the All Share Index by 1.72% and the All Islamic Index by 1.94% this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The transport sector index plunged 2.82%, transport (2.21%), banks and financial services (2.07%), industrials (1.8%) and consumer goods and services (1.28%); while insurance gained 1.64% and telecom 0.62% this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.
Major losers in the main bourse included Masraf Al Rayan, Al Khaleej Takaful, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Qamco, Alijarah Holding, Commercial Bank, QGMD, Medicare Group, Baladna, Barwa, Industries Qatar, Nakilat, Milaha and Gulf Warehousing.
In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mahhar Holding saw their equities depreciate in value this week.
Nevertheless, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatar Insurance, Estithmar Holding, Mekdam Holding, Zad Holding and Widam Food were among the gainers in the main bourse this week.
The local retail investors’ net selling increased substantially to QR73.04mn against QR5.74mn the week ended August 17.
The foreign individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR4.46mn compared with net buyers of QR16.04mn a week ago.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying declined noticeably to QR47.62mn against QR53.13mn the previous week.
However, the domestic funds were net buyers to the extent of QR63.5mn compared with net sellers of QR21.59mn the week ended August 17.
The Arab retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.38mn against net profit takers of QR2.2mn a week ago.
The Arab funds were net buyers to the extent of QR0.08mn compared with net sellers of QR0.13mn the previous week.
The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.07mn against net profit takers of QR0.1mn the week ended August 17.
The foreign funds’ net selling weakened perceptibly to QR36.15mn compared to QR39.41mn a week ago.
The main market witnessed a 6% jump in trade volumes to 761.61mn shares, 3% in value to QR1.96bn and 13% in deals to 86,041 this week.
In the venture market, trade volumes tanked 41% to 5.13mn equities, value by 37% to QR12.12mn on 46% in transactions to 899.