Notwithstanding the uncertainty on the US interest rates, the 20-stock Qatar Index gained 0.4% to 9,716.34 points, recovering from an intraday low of 9,662 points.
The domestic institutions stronger buying support lent support to the main market, whose year-to-date losses narrowed to 10.29%.
The Arab retail investors turned bullish in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR2.22bn or 0.4% to QR561.87bn on account of small cap segments.
As much as 50% of the traded constituents extended gains in the main market, which saw some 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan) valued at QR0.03mn trade across two deals.
The foreign individuals were seen increasingly into net buying in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Gulf retail investors’ lower net profit booking had its marginal influence on the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices in the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes.
The Total Return Index rose 0.4%, the All Share Index fell 0.41% and the All Islamic Index by 0.32% in the main market.
The banks and financial services sector index gained 0.74%, realty (0.63%), industrials (0.55%), transport (0.24%) and insurance (0.23%); while telecom shrank 1.43% and consumer goods and services 0.87%.
Major gainers in the main market included Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Beema, Medicare Group, Widam Food, Barwa, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank and Gulf International Services.
Nevertheless, Inma Holding, QLM, Ooredoo, Zad Holding and Woqod were among the major losers in the main bourse.
The domestic institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR66.13mn compared to QR11.79mn on May 20.
The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the tune of QR4.88mn against net sellers of QR2.46mn on Monday.
The foreign individuals’ net buying expanded perceptibly to QR2.46mn compared to QR1.53mn the previous day.
The Gulf individual investors’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR0.02mn against QR0.55mn on May 20.
However, the foreign institutions’ net selling strengthened considerably to QR56.91mn compared to QR27.64mn on Monday.
The Qatari individuals turned net sellers to the extent of QR11.28mn against net buyers of QR16.01mn the previous day.
The Gulf funds were net profit takers to the tune of QR5.27mn compared with net buyers of QR1.32mn on May 20.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight session.
Trade volumes in the main market fell 20% to 162.56mn shares, while value was up 2% to QR528.53mn despite 1% lower transactions at 17,732.
The venture market saw a 76% contraction in trade volumes to 0.04mn equities, 79% in value to QR0.06mn and 81% in deals to six.