The Qatar Stock Exchange on Tuesday witnessed intense gyrations intraday to finally settle 34 points lower, amid geopolitical tensions in the region.

The foreign institutions were seen net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.32% to 10,573.21 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,608 points.

The banking, transport, consumer goods, insurance and real estate counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 2.38%.

About 77% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR1.41bn or 0.23% to QR622.26bn on the back of small and microcap segments.

The Gulf institutions were increasingly net sellers in the main market, which saw 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.09mn trade across nine deals.

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

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

The domestic institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The Total Return Index shed 0.32%, the All Islamic Index by 0.41% and the All Share Index by 0.34% in the main market.

The banks and financial services sector index declined 0.82%, transport (0.6%), consumer goods and services (0.45%), insurance (0.37%) and realty (0.33%); whereas telecom and industrials gained 0.91% and 0.71% respectively.

Major losers in the main market included QLM, Meeza, QIIB, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, Masraf Al Rayan, Lesha Bank, Salam International Investment, Estithmar Holding, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qamco and Ezdan.

In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.

Nevertheless, Beema, Industries Qatar, Ooredoo, Qatar Oman Investment and Mannai Corporation were among the gainers in the main bourse.

The foreign funds were net sellers to the tune of QR11.07mn compared with net buyers of QR16.81mn on October 21.

The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking increased perceptibly to QR5.17mn against QR3.05mn the previous day.

The Gulf retail investors turned net sellers to the extent of QR1.87mn compared with net buyers of QR0.3mn on Monday.

The Arab institutions were net profit takers to the tune of QR0.07mn against no major net exposure on October 21.

The domestic institutions’ net buying decreased drastically to QR11.36mn compared to QR52.93mn the previous day.

However, the foreign individual investors’ net buying strengthened noticeably to QR7.64mn against QR2.29mn on Monday.

The Arab retail investors’ net buying strengthened noticeably to QR4.97mn compared to QR2.72mn on October 21.

The Qatari individuals’ net profit booking shrank substantially to QR5.78mn against QR71.99mn the previous day.

Trade volumes in the main market tanked 25% to 109.06mn shares, value by 4% to QR325.1mn and transactions by 13% to 11,696.

The venture market saw flat volumes at 0.03mn equities but on 14% jump in value to QR0.08mn amidst 45% contraction in deals to 11.