The industrials sector witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index lost 0.41% to 10,109.86 points.
The domestic institutions were seen net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened further to 6.65%.
The Arab retail investors’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR2.47bn or 0.42% to QR589.63bn with small cap segments leading the pack of shakers.
The foreign institutions continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan) valued at QR0.02mn trade across four deals.
The Gulf funds were also net profit takers but with lesser vigour in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index fell slower than the other indices in the main market, which reported no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index shed 0.41%, the All Share Index by 0.37% and the All Islamic Index by 0.4% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.
The industrials sector index shrank 1.22%, banks and financial services (0.37%), real estate (0.34%) and insurance (0.03%); while transport gained 0.79%, telecom (0.48%) and consumer goods and services (0.28%).
Major losers in the main market included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, QIIB, Industries Qatar, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatari German Medical Devices, Lesha Bank, Masraf Al Rayan and Mekdam Holding. In the venture market, Mahhar Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Milaha, Commercial Bank, Baladna, Dukhan Bank, Qatar Insurance and Meeza were among the gainers in the main market.
The domestic funds were net sellers to the tune of QR0.53mn compared with net buyers of QR28.44mn on January 29.
The Arab individual investors’ net buying weakened noticeably to QR2.1mn against QR6.94mn the previous day.
However, the local individuals’ net buying strengthened markedly to QR18.36mn compared to QR10.65mn on Monday.
The foreign retail investors turned net buyers to the extent of QR0.37mn against net sellers of QR0.01mn on January 29.
The Gulf individual investors were net buyers to the tune of QR0.3mn compared with net sellers of QR0.19mn the previous day.
The foreign institutions’ net profit boking weakened substantially to QR9.37mn against QR29.03mn on Monday.
The Gulf institutions’ net selling declined significantly to QR11.27mn compared to QR16.78mn on January 29.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the fourth straight session.
Trade volumes in the main market were up about 1% to 143.35mn shares and value by 5% to QR482.29mn, while deals fell about 1% to 17,369.
In the venture market, trade volumes almost doubled to 0.34mn equities and value also almost doubled to QR0.47mn on more than transactions to 44.
