The foreign funds were on Wednesday increasingly net buyers on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which closed 52 points higher.

The real estate and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index gained 0.49% to 10,542.71 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,467 points.

The foreign individuals were increasingly bullish in the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated to 2.66%.

As much as 62% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation expanded QR5.33bn or 0.87% to QR615.24bn on the back of midcap segments.

The Arab institutions were seen net buyers in the main market, which saw 6,581 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Doha Bank) valued at QR0.07mn trade across five deals.

The domestic funds’ weakened net profit booking had its influence in the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.

The Gulf institutions’ lower net selling also had its say in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.

The Total Return Index rose 0.49%, the All Islamic Index by 0.45% and the All Share Index by 0.56% in the main market.

The realty sector index shot up 2.61%, banks and financial services (0.73%), industrials (0.46%), transport (0.45%) and consumer goods and services (0.02%); while telecom and insurance declined 0.65% and 0.34% respectively.

Major gainers in the main market included Ezdan, Alijarah Holding, Mazaya Qatar, Qamco, Qatar Oman Investment, QNB, Masraf Al Rayan, Aamal Company, Al Khaleej Takaful, United Development Company, Barwa and Nakilat.

Nevertheless, QLM, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Medicare Group and Doha Insurance were among the losers in the main bourse.

In the venture market, both Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value.

The foreign institutions’ net buying increased noticeably to QR73.85mn compared to QR47.88mn on September 24.

The foreign retail investors’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR4.77mn against QR4.73mn the previous day.

The Arab institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.47mn compared with no major net exposure on Tuesday.

The domestic institutions’ net profit booking decreased perceptibly to QR19.37mn against QR23.67mn on September 24.

The Arab individuals’ net selling weakened markedly to QR2.93mn compared to QR9.82mn the previous day.

The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR8.34mn against QR9.08mn on Tuesday.

However, the Qatari individuals’ net selling expanded significantly to QR48.33mn compared to QR11.52mn on September 24.

The Gulf retail investors were net profit takers to the extent of QR0.11mn against net buyers of QR1.47mn the previous day.

Trade volumes in the main market soared 78% to 294.63mn shares, value by 43% to QR536.2mn and transactions by 25% to 19,020.

The venture market saw an 84% plunge in trade volumes to 0.1mn equities, 81% in value to QR0.26mn and 19% in deals to 25.