The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) Sunday opened the week on a stronger note with key index gaining as much as 65 points on the back of buying interests, especially in the consumer

Gulf Times

goods and transport counters.

Foreign funds were seen bullish as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.71% to 9,385.45 points, although it touched an intraday high of 9,452 points.

The Gulf retail investors were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated to 13.34%.

More than 63% of the traded constituents extended gains in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR3.49bn or 0.64% to QR545.33bn on account of small cap segments.

The Gulf institutions’ weakened net profit booking had its influence in the main market, which saw 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.12mn trade across 20 deals.

The domestic institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The local retail investors were seen net sellers in 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 and volumes were on the decline.

The Total Return Index gained 0.71%, the All Share Index by 0.59% and the All Islamic Index by 0.45% in the main market.

The consumer goods and services sector index tanked 4.02%, transport (1.31%), banks and financial services (0.5%) and real estate (0.25%); while insurance declined 1%, industrials (0.13%) and telecom (0.01%).

Major gainers in the main market included Woqod, Ahlibank Qatar, Nakilat, Medicare Group, Dlala, Lesha Bank and Qatari German Medical Devices. In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.

Nevertheless, Milaha, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Al Khaleej Takaful, Qatar Insurance, Gulf International Services and Widam Food were among the shakers in the main bourse.

The foreign funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR11.86mn compared with net sellers of QR105.83mn on May 30.

The Gulf individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR0.14mn against net sellers of QR0.6mn last Thursday.

The Gulf institutions’ net selling declined substantially to QR11.5mn compared to QR62.61mn the previous trading day.

However, the Qatari individuals turned net profit takers to the tune of QR10.48mn against net buyers of QR58.89mn on May 30.

The Arab retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR5mn compared with net buyers of QR1.17mn last Thursday.

The foreign individuals turned net profit takers to the tune of QR1.8mn against net buyers of QR6mn the previous trading day.

The domestic institutions’ net buying weakened drastically to QR16.79mn compared to QR102.71mn on May 30.

The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the extent of QR0.27mn last Thursday.

Trade volumes in the main market plummeted 63% to 127.08mn shares, value by 75% to QR352.91mn and transactions by 51% to 13,191.

The venture market witnessed flat trade volumes at 0.06mn equities and value at QR0.1mn despite 46% lower deals at 7.