The insurance, real estate, banking and transport counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index declined 10 points or 0.1% to 9,726.75 points.
The local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened further to 8.93%.
More than 56% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR1.29bn or 0.23% to QR568.51bn with microcap segments losing the most.
The Gulf individuals turned bearish in the main market, which however regained from an intraday low of 9,655 points.
The foreign retail investors’ lower net buying had its influence in the main bourse, which saw as many as 5,025 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan) valued at QR0.01mn trade across one deal.
However, the foreign funds were seen net buyers in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen gaining vis-à-vis declines in the other indices in the main bourse, which witnessed no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index was down 0.1% and the All Share Index by 0.25%, while the All Islamic Index was up 0.06% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.
The insurance sector index plummeted 1.62%, realty (1.08%), banks and financial services (0.48%), transport (0.45%) and consumer goods and services (0.18%); while telecom and industrials gained 0.73% and 0.53% respectively.
Major shakers in the main market include Qatar Insurance, QLM, Untied Development Company, Dlala, Mekdam Holding, Widam, Estithmar Holding, Barwa and Nakilat.
Nevertheless, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Qatar National Cement, Al Khaleej Takaful, Industries Qatar, Ooredoo and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding were among the gainers in the main bourse. In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mahhar Holding saw their shares appreciate in value.
The Gulf institutions’ net selling increased drastically to QR47.59mn compared to QR15.45mn on December 11.
The local individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR14.65mn against net buyers of QR1.77mn the previous day.
The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR1.24mn compared with net buyers of QR0.02mn on Monday.
The foreign individual investors’ net buying eased perceptibly to QR4.49mn against QR5.53mn on December 11.
However, the foreign funds were net buyers to the tune of QR37.38mn compared with net sellers of QR3.72mn the previous day.
The domestic institutions’ net buying strengthened markedly to QR16.54mn against QR11.26mn on Monday.
The Arab individual investors’ net buying expanded significantly to QR5.06mn compared to QR0.58mn on December 11.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the fifth straight session.
Trade volumes in the main market grew 21% to 127.61mn shares, value by 41% to QR456.52mn and deals by 24% to 16,120.
The venture market saw doubled trade volumes to 0.46mn equities and value soared 40% to QR0.42mn and transactions by 68% to 52.
