Ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates later this week, the Qatar Stock Exchange lost more than 10 points despite gainers outnumbering losers.
A higher than average selling pressure – especially at the transport, realty and insurance counters – led the 20-stock Qatar Index to shed 0.1% to 10,448.96 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,473 points.
The foreign institutions were seen net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 3.52%.
The Gulf individuals were also seen bearish in the main bourse, whose capitalisation shed QR0.13bn or 0.02% to QR604.51bn on the back of microcap segments.
The foreign individuals turned net sellers in the main market, which saw 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.12mn trade across eight deals.
The domestic institutions’ substantially weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Arab individuals continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the main barometer in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.
The Total Return Index was down 0.1%, the All Share Index by 0.05% and the All Islamic Index by 0.05% in the main market.
The transport sector index fell 0.64%, realty (0.31%), insurance (0.27%) and banks and financial services (0.04%); while consumer goods and services gained 0.49% and telecom 0.3%. The industrials index was rather flat.
Major losers in the main bourse included Dlala, Barwa, Milaha, Salam International Investment, Estithmar Holding, Gulf International Services and Nakilat.
In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, as much as 48% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main market with major gainers being Medicare Group, Inma Holding, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Aamal Company, QLM and Vodafone Qatar.
In the junior bourse, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.
The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR8.41mn compared with net buyers of QR15.48mn on September 15.
The Gulf individual investors were net sellers to the extent of QR3.03mn against net buyers of QR2.6mn the previous day.
The foreign retail investors turned net profit takers to the tune of QR1.67mn compared with net buyers of QR0.32mn on Sunday.
The domestic institutions’ net buying declined considerably to QR6.37mn against QR19.1mn on September 15.
However, the local individuals were net buyers to the tune of QR2.29mn compared with net sellers of QR36.62mn the previous day. The Gulf institutions’ net buying increased noticeably to QR5.65mn against QR0.81mn on Sunday.
The Arab retail investors’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR1.21mn compared to QR1.54mn on September 15.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net sellers to the extent of QR0.16mn the previous day.
Trade volumes in the main market shrank 5% to 137.38mn shares and value by 1% to QR336.4mn, while transactions rose 17% to 12,661.
The venture market saw a 6% decline in trade volumes to 0.17mn equities and 5% in value to QR0.4mn but on 18% jump in deals to 26.
A higher than average selling pressure – especially at the transport, realty and insurance counters – led the 20-stock Qatar Index to shed 0.1% to 10,448.96 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,473 points.
