Ahead of the US Federal Reserve meeting, the Qatar Stock Exchange on Wednesday gained more than six points on buying interests especially in the real estate, industrials, banks and consumer goods sectors.

The foreign institutions were seen net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.06% to 10,680.78 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,627 points.

As much as 51% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation was up QR0.39bn or 0.06% to QR623.81bn on the back of microcap segments.

The foreign individuals’ weakened net selling had its influence in the main bourse, which saw as many as 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at mere QR0.03mn changed hands across eight deals.

The domestic institutions continued to be bullish but with lesser vigour in the main bourse, whose trade turnover fell amidst higher volumes.

The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.

The Gulf institutions turned net profit takers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The Total Return Index was up 0.06%, the All Share Index by 0.08% and the All Islamic Index by 0.16% in the main market.

The realty sector index gained 0.54%, industrials (0.43%), banks and financial services (0.31%) and consumer goods and services (0.23%); while transport declined 2.02%, telecom (0.52%) and insurance (0.05%).

Major gainers in the main bourse included Widam Food, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Doha Bank, Estithmar Holding, Inma Holding, Dukhan Bank, Salam International Investment, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Industries Qatar and Mazaya Qatar.

Nevertheless, Nakilat, Milaha, Ezdan, Ooredoo and Doha Insurance were among the shakers in the main market. In the juniour bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.

The foreign institutions were net buyers to the tune of QR26.51mn compared with net sellers of QR6.84mn on January 28.

The foreign individual investors’ net profit booking fell noticeably to QR3.76mn against QR7.01mn the previous day.

However, the Qatari individuals’ net selling increased substantially to QR13.52mn compared to QR6.07mn on Tuesday.

The Gulf institutions turned net sellers to the extent of QR8.76mn against net buyers of QR2.93mn on January 28.

The Arab individual investors’ net selling expanded markedly to QR7.08mn compared to QR4.41mn the previous day.

The Gulf retail investors were net profit takers to the extent of QR0.11mn against net buyers of QR0.96mn on Tuesday.

The domestic institutions’ net buying decreased significantly to QR6.73mn compared to QR20.44mn on January 28.

The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight session.

Trade volumes in the main market grew 3% to 171.32mn shares, while value shrank 13% to QR321.94mn and deals by 9% to 12,696.

The venture market saw 67% plunge in trade volumes to 0.08mn equities, 67% in value to QR0.2mn and 52% in transactions to 16.

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