The transport, insurance and telecom counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index fell 0.24% to 10,203.46 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,245 points.
The Arab individuals were seen net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 5.79%.
The foreign institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR0.87bn or 0.15% to QR588.61bn with microcap segments leading the pack of losers.
The foreign individuals’ lower net buying also had its say on the main market, which saw as many as 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.05mn trade across seven deals.
The domestic institutions continued to be net sellers, but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices in the main market, which reported no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index shed 0.2%, the All Share Index by 0.19% and the All Islamic Index by 0.12% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.
The transport sector index tanked 1.58%, insurance (1.13%), telecom (1.03%) and consumer goods and services (0.58%); while real estate gained 0.2%, industrials (0.2%) and banks and financial services (0.05%).
More than 59% of the traded constituents in the main market were in the red with major losers being Baladna, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Nakilat, Mazaya Qatar, Alijarah Holding, Doha Bank, Medicare Group, Woqod, Gulf International Services, Qatar Insurance, Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar.
Nevertheless, Meeza, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Estithmar Holding, United Development Company, Industries Qatar and Qamco were among the gainers in the main bourse.
In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.
The Arab individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR0.94mn compared with net buyers of QR5.95mn on March 19.
The foreign institutions’ net buying declined noticeably to QR9.2mn against QR14.44mn the previous day.
The local retail investors’ net buying weakened considerably to QR2.11mn compared to QR8.8mn on Tuesday.
The foreign individual investors’ net buying eased marginally to QR0.36mn against QR0.63mn on March 19.
However, the Gulf individuals’ net buying expanded marginally to QR0.53mn compared to QR0.26mn the previous day.
The domestic institutions’ net profit booking shrank notably to QR11.11mn against QR22.66mn on Tuesday.
The Gulf institutions’ net selling weakened markedly to QR2.02mn compared to QR7.42mn on March 19.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the seventh consecutive session.
Trade volumes in the main market decreased 18% to 116.02mn shares and value by 21% to QR341486mn, while deals were up 1% to 13,817.
The venture market saw a 57% contraction in trade volumes to 0.03mn equities, 64% in value to QR0.04mn and 40% in transactions to 9.
