The transport, insurance, telecom and industrials counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index declined 0.34% to 10,498.31 points.
The foreign institutions and Arab individuals were seen net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 3.07%.
The Gulf funds were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR1.71bn or 0.28% to QR608.79bn with small cap segments losing the most.
As much as 68% of the traded constituents were on the red in the main market, which however, touched an intraday high of 10,546 points.
The local retail investors turned bullish in the main bourse, which saw as many as 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.05mn trade across five deals.
The foreign individuals were net buyers in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index fell faster than the other indices in the main bourse, which witnessed no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index shed 0.34%, the All Islamic Index by 0.68% and the All Share Index by 0.24% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.
The transport sector index tanked 1.87%, insurance (1.17%), telecom (0.92%), industrials (0.65%) and consumer goods and services (0.44%); while banks and financial services gained 0.28% and real estate 0.14%.
Major shakers in the main market included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Milaha, Ezdan, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Meeza, Mannai Corporation, Qatar Insurance and Ooredoo. In the venture market, Mahhar Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, QLM, Doha Insurance, Commercial Bank, Barwa and Gulf Warehousing were among the gainers in the main market.
The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR17.02mn compared with net buyers of QR7.41mn on January 15.
The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking increased markedly to QR7.55mn against QR3.65mn the previous day.
The Arab individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR4.97mn compared with net buyers of QR0.83mn on Monday.
However, the domestic institutions’ net buying strengthened considerably to QR26.56mn against QR8.03mn on January 15.
The local retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.5mn compared with net sellers of QR10.74mn the previous day.
The foreign individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR0.43mn against net profit takers of QR0.01mn on Monday.
The Gulf retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.05mn compared with net sellers of QR1.78mn on January 15.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the fourth straight session.
Trade volumes in the main market were down 12% to 132.71mn shares, value by 6% to QR448.91mn and deals by 14% to 14,375.
The venture market saw doubled trade volumes to 0.18mn equities and value almost doubled to QR0.21mn on 47% surge in transactions to 22.