The banks, transport and telecom counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.73% to 9,872.1 points.
The foreign institutions turned bearish in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened further to 7.57%.
About 76% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR4.59bn or 0.79% to QR577.28bn with midcap segments losing the most.
The Arab individuals continued to be net sellers but with lesser vigour in the main market, which however touched an intraday high of 9,962 points.
The local retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw as many as 0.02mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.04mn trade across 10 deals.
The domestic funds were seen bullish in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices in the main bourse, which witnessed no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index lost 0.73%, the All Islamic Index by 0.65% and the All Share Index by 0.72% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes.
The banks and financial services sector index shrank 0.94%, transport (0.79%), telecom (0.78%), industrials (0.67%) and real estate (0.15%); while insurance gained 0.29%. The index of consumer goods and services was rather flat.
Major shakers in the main market include Medicare Group, Inma Holding, Masraf Al Rayan, Qamco, Dlala, QNB, Lesha Bank, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Gulf Warehousing and Nakilat. In the venture market, Mahhar Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Aamal Company, Barwa, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing and Mannai Corporation were among the gainers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.
The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking increased noticeably to QR35.85mn compared to QR27.41mn on December 5.
The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR11.13mn against net buyers of QR15.68mn the previous day.
However, the local retail investors’ net buying strengthened significantly to QR22.12mn compared to QR14.71mn on Tuesday.
The domestic institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR18.86mn against net sellers of QR1.14mn on December 5.
The foreign retail investors’ net buying expanded markedly to QR6.53mn compared to QR2.59mn the previous day.
The Gulf individual investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.34mn against net sellers of QR0.02mn on Tuesday.
The Arab individuals’ net profit booking weakened considerably to QR0.88mn compared to QR4.47mn on December 5.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the extent of QR0.06mn the previous day.
Trade volumes in the main market were down 3% to 109.33mn shares, whereas value shot up 6% to QR360.52mn and deals by 5% to 13,827.
The venture market saw a 9% contraction in trade volumes to 0.29mn equities and 18% in value to QR0.28mn but on 71% surge in transactions to 36.