QSE sees five of seven sectors make gains, but index declines

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Sunday opened the week weak with its key index losing more than five points even as five of the seven sectors experienced buying interests.

The domestic institutions were seen net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.05% lower at 10,171.95 points, but recovering from an intraday low of 10,141 points.

The banking and industrials counters witnessed mild net profit booking pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date losses were at 6.08%.

More than 48% of the traded constituents were losers in the main bourse, whose capitalisation however added QR0.82bn or 0.14% to QR589.59bn on the back of small cap segments.

The foreign individuals were seen bearish in the main market, which saw 0.04mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.31mn trade across 26 deals.

The foreign institutions’ lower net buying had its influence in the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.

The local retail investors continued to be net seller but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the main barometer of the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.

The Total Return Index was down 0.05% and the All Islamic Index by 0.1%, while the All Share Index was up 0.09% in the main market.

The banks and financial services sector index fell 0.08% and industrials 0.01%; while consumer goods and services gained 1.36%, transport (0.26%), insurance (0.24%), real estate (0.09%) and telecom (0.03%).

Major shakers in the main market included Al Faleh Educational Holding, Al Meera, Meeza, QIIB and Qatar Insurance.

Nevertheless, Zad Holding, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Widam Food, Ezdan, Al Khaleej Takaful, Alijarah Holding and Inma Holding were among the gainers in the main bourse. In the venture market, both Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value.

The domestic institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR6.03mn compared with net buyers of QR0.58mn on July 11.

The foreign individual investors were net sellers to the extent of QR1.9mn against net buyers of QR5.08mn last Thursday.

The foreign institutions’ net buying eased marginally to QR24.38mn compared to QR25.93mn the previous trading day.

However, the Qatari individual investors’ net selling weakened noticeably to QR12.9mn against QR21.2mn on July 11.

The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking decreased perceptibly to QR1.01mn compared to QR4.03mn last Thursday.

The Gulf individual investors’ net selling declined significantly to QR0.75mn against QR3.11mn the previous trading day.

The Arab retail investors’ net profit booking shrank markedly to QR1.71mn compared to QR2.7mn on July 11.

The Arab institutions’ net selling fell notably to QR0.02mn against QR0.54mn last Thursday.

Trade volumes in the main market were down 17% to 154.04mn shares, value by 28% to QR311.6mn and transactions by 30% to 11,916.

In the venture market, trade volumes shot up about 30-fold to 3.57mn equities and value by about 26-fold to QR6.65mn on more than eight-fold jump in deals to 142.