Foreign funds lift QSE 66 points as index crosses 10,200 levels; M-cap adds QR4.25bn
Strong buying interests of foreign institutions on Thursday lifted the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) more than 66 points and its key index crossed the 10,200 levels.A higher than average demand especially in the insurance, banks and real estate sectors led the 20-stock Qatar Index gain 0.65% to 10,203.04 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,119 points.More than 67% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main market, whose year-to-date losses were at 5.79%.However, the Arab funds were increasingly bearish in the main bourse, whose capitalisation however added QR4.25bn or 0.72% to QR591.64bn on the back of large and midcap segments.The domestic institutions were seen net profit takers in the main market, which saw 2,760 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.02mn trade across four deals.The local retail investors turned net sellers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The foreign individuals were seen net profit takers in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Islamic index was also seen gaining slower than the other indices in the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes.The Total Return Index rose 0.65%, the All Share Index by 0.7% and the All Islamic Index by 0.64% in the main market.The insurance sector index gained 1.46%, banks and financial services (1.09%), realty (0.88%), transport (0.64%) and industrials (0.49%); while consumer goods and services declined 1.04% and telecom 0.44%.Major gainers in the main market included Dukhan Bank, Qatar Insurance, Masraf Al Rayan, Mannai Corporation, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, QNB and Barwa. In the junior bourse, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Woqod, Qatari Investors Group, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Widam Food, Dlala and Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution were among the losers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR58.7mn compared with net sellers of QR53.97mn on August 28.However, the Gulf institutions’ net selling increased substantially to QR26.54mn against QR1.08mn the previous day.The domestic funds were net profit takers to the extent of QR14.67mn compared with net buyers of QR29.64mn on Tuesday.The Qatari individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR8.74mn against net buyers of QR17.16mn on August 28.The foreign retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR5.2mn compared with net buyers of QR2.19mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors turned net profit takers to the tune of QR2.78mn against net buyers of QR4mn on Tuesday.The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR0.79mn compared with net buyers of QR2.13mn on August 28.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net profit takers to the tune of QR0.09mn the previous day.Trade volumes in the main market shrank 15% to 153.07mn shares, while value shot up 36% to QR586.08mn and transactions by 1% to 16,054.The venture market saw 36% surge in trade volumes to 0.75mn equities, 43% in value to QR1.77mn and 1% in deals to 84.(Ends)