The heightened geopolitical tensions continued to weaken sentiments as the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Sunday opened the week weak with its key index losing 53 points on an across the board selling pressure.

The Arab retail investors were seen net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.51% to 10,412.01 points, but recovering from an intraday low of 10,334 points.

The real estate, consumer goods, insurance and industrials counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 3.87%.

More than 86% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation eroded QR4.34bn or 0.71% to QR608.99bn on the back of small and microcap segments.

The local retail investors were seen net profit takers in the main market, which saw 0.16mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.36mn trade across 39 deals.

The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease.

The foreign individual investors turned bearish in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.

However, the domestic institutions were increasingly into net buying in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The Total Return Index shed 0.51%, the All Islamic Index by 0.84% and the All Share Index by 0.62% in the main market.

The realty sector index plummeted 2.26%, consumer goods and services (1.92%), insurance (1.19%), industrials (0.7%), banks and financial services (0.35%), telecom (0.33%) and transport (0.19%).

Major losers in the main bourse included QLM, Alijarah Holding, Dlala, Medicare Group, Mazaya Qatar, Lesha Bank, Qatar German Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Aamal Company, Gulf International Services, Estithmar Holding, Al Khaleej Takaful, Ezdan and Gulf Warehousing. In the venture market, both Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value.

Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Commercial Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, Ooredoo and Industries Qatar were among the gainers in the main market.

The Arab individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR22.43mn compared with net buyers of QR5.93mn on October 3.

The Qatari retail investors were net profit takers to the extent of QR10.89mn against net buyers of QR25mn last Thursday.

The foreign individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR1.63mn compared with net buyers of QR3.64mn the previous day.

The Gulf retail investors’ net buying weakened marginally to QR0.29mn against QR0.99mn on October 3.

However, the domestic funds’ net buying expanded significantly to QR68.26mn compared to QR36.16mn last Thursday.

The foreign institutions’ net selling decreased substantially to QR31.25mn against QR68.2mn the previous trading day.

The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking shrank noticeably to QR2.34mn compared to QR4.06mn on October 3.

The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the tune of QR0.54mn last Thursday.

Trade volumes in the main market fell 14% to 169.45mn shares, value by 17% to QR402.45mn and transactions by 20% to 14,152.

The venture market saw 76% contraction in trade volumes to 0.04mn equities, 76% in value to QR0.1mn and 77% in deals to 7.