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The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday gained more than 19 points on the back of buying interests, especially in the industrials sector.The Gulf institutions turned net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.18% to 10,735.63 points.The domestic funds were increasingly into net buying in the main market, whose year-to-date gains strengthened further to 0.51%.The Arab retail investors were net buyers in the main bourse, which saw the index regain from an intraday low of 10,706 points.However, Qatari individuals were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, whose capitalisation was down QR0.39bn or 0.06% to QR630.21bn with microcap segments losing the most.The foreign institutions were seen increasingly bearish in the main market, which saw a total of 0.04mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.11mn changed hands across 16 deals.The foreign individual investors’ net profit booking increased in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Islamic index was seen outperforming the main index in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Total Return Index rose 0.18% and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.25%, while All Share Index was down 0.04% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The industrials sector index shot up 1.36%; whereas real estate declined 1.14%, telecom (0.69%), transport (0.5%), insurance (0.46%), banks and financial services (0.34%) and consumer goods and services (0.31%).Major gainers in the main market included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatar Oman Investment and QIIB.Nevertheless, more than 60% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Dlala, Salam International Investment, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Qatar Insurance, Barwa, QNB and United Development Company. In the venture market, Mahhar Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.The Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR15.8mn compared with net sellers of QR1.52mn on August 9.The domestic institutions’ net buying increased marginally to QR7.89mn against QR7.34mn the previous day.The Arab individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR4.34mn compared with net buyers of QR6.52mn on Wednesday.However, the local retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR13.9mn against net buyers of QR4.47mn on August 9.The foreign institutions’ net selling strengthened considerably to QR11.25mn compared to QR1.44mn the previous day.The foreign individual investors’ net profit booking grew marginally to QR2.81mn against QR2.29mn on Wednesday.The Gulf retail investors’ net selling also increased marginally to QR0.08mn compared to QR0.02mn on August 9.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure.Trade volumes in the main market shrank 18% to 137.19mn shares, value by 12% to QR369.15mn and deals by 7% to 15,310.The venture market saw a 75% surge in trade volumes to 1.83mn equities, 93% in value to QR4.06mn and 82% in transactions to 369.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Wednesday snapped two days of bearish run as its key index gained more than 32 points on the back of buying interests, especially in the real estate and industrials counters.The domestic institutions were increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.28% to 10,716.45 points.The foreign funds’ weakened net profit booking pressure had its influence in the main market, whose year-to-date gains expanded to 0.33%.The local retail investors continued to be net buyers but with lesser vigour in the main bourse, which saw the index regain from an intraday low of 10,609 points.The Arab individuals were seen increasingly bearish in the main bourse, whose capitalisation rose QR0.95bn or 0.15% to QR630.6bn with microcap segments gaining the most.The foreign individual investors’ net selling was seen strengthening in the main market, which saw a total of 0,24mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.61mn changed hands across 13 deals.The Gulf institutions were seen increasing into net profit booking in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Total Return Index rose 0.28%, All Share Index by 0.16% and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.33% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The realty sector index was up 0.91% and industrials (0.8%); whereas telecom shrank 0.72%, consumer goods and services (0.1%), insurance (0.04%) and banks and financial services (0.01%). The transport index was rather flat.Major gainers in the main market included Dlala, Alijarah Holding, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Salam International Investment, Gulf International Services, Industries Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Barwa, Mazaya Qatar and Ezdan. In the venture market, Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, QLM, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Qamco, Medicare Group and Doha Insurance were among the losers in the main market. In the juniour bourse, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.The domestic institutions’ net buying increased noticeably to QR7.34mn compared to QR4.72mn on August 8.The foreign institutions’ net selling decreased considerably to QR1.44mn against QR17.89mn the previous day.However, the Arab individual investors’ net selling rose perceptibly to QR6.52mn compared to QR5.76mn on Tuesday.The foreign individuals’ net profit booking strengthened markedly to QR2.29mn against QR0.45mn on August 8.The Gulf institutions’ net selling expanded marginally to QR1.52mn compared to QR1.51mn the previous day.The Gulf individuals turned net profit takers to the tune of QR0.02mn against net buyers of QR1.48mn on Tuesday.The local retail investors’ net buying shrank significantly to QR4.47mn compared to QR19.41mn on August 8. The Arab institutions had no major net exposure.Trade volumes in the main market shot up 24% to 166.48mn shares, value by 6% to QR417.41mn and deals by 5% to 16,447.The venture market saw an 89% surge in trade volumes to 1.04mn equities, 98% in value to QR2.1mn and 83% in transactions to 203.

As much as 84% of Middle East organisations consider AI or artificial intelligence a top priority, while emerging risks underscore urgent need for responsible AI (RAI), according to a joint study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and MIT Sloan Management Review.The study found 38% of Middle East organisations believe they are prepared for AI regulations and that 25% of entities in the Middle East are RAI leaders, while 75% are lagging.“The AI landscape in the Middle East, both from a technological and regulatory perspective has changed dramatically,” said Elias Baltassis, Partner and Director, BCG X.The rapid adoption of generative AI tools has brought AI to the forefront of conversations in the region, he said, adding yet, the fundamentals of responsible AI remain crucial."This year, our research emphasises the pressing need for Middle Eastern organisations to invest in and scale their RAI programmes to address the growing uses and risks of AI in a region that is increasingly embracing digital transformation,” according to him.In the Middle East, the components of RAI programmes encompass broad principles (43%), policies (49%), governance (76%), monitoring (49%), tools and implementation (51%), and change management (43%).Individual considerations within these RAI programmes include transparency and explainability (62%), social and environmental impact (59%), accountability (57%), fairness (54%), safety, security, and human wellbeing (68%), and data security and privacy (86%).Finding that 75% of the Middle Eastern organisations are RAI laggards; it said there was an urgent need for most organisations in the region to double down on their RAI efforts.The data suggests that organisations in the region can experience a range of benefits from RAI, including better products/services (43%), brand differentiation (27%), increased customer retention (43%), improved long-term profitability (30%), accelerated innovation (41%), and improved recruiting and retention (16%).The vast majority (78%) of organisations surveyed globally are highly reliant on third-party AI tools, exposing them to a host of risks, including reputational damage, the loss of customer trust, financial loss, regulatory penalties, compliance challenges, and litigation. Still, one-fifth of them that use third-party AI tools fail to evaluate their risks at all.The study said only 38% of organisations feel adequately prepared for AI regulations, highlighting the need for more awareness and preparedness. The regulatory landscape is evolving almost as rapidly as AI itself, with many new AI-specific regulations taking effect on a rolling basis.It highlighted that the chief executive officers or CEOs play a key role in both affirming an organisation’s commitment to AI and sustaining the necessary investments in it."Organisations with a CEO who takes a hands-on role in RAI efforts (such as by engaging in RAI-related hiring decisions or product-level discussions or setting performance targets tied to RAI) report 58% more business benefits than do organisations with a less hands-on CEO, regardless of their leader status," it said.

The Qatar Stock Exchange Tuesday continued its bear run for the second consecutive session with its key index losing 118 points to settle below 10,700 points and capitalisation.text-box { float:left; width:250px; padding:1px; border:1pt white; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 20px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.text-box {width: 30%;}}**media[63305]**erode QR5bn. The industrials sector witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index plunged 1.09% to 10,686.03 points.The foreign funds were increasingly net sellers in the main market, which saw the index touch an intraday high of 10,812 points.The Arab individuals were seen increasingly bearish in the main bourse, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 0.05%.About 64% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market, whose capitalisation shrank 0.85% to QR629.65bn with small and microcap segments losing the most.The domestic institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main bourse, which saw a total of 10,032 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.09mn changed hands across nine deals.The foreign retail investors turned net profit takers in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main index in the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Total Return Index shed 1.09%, All Share Index by 0.91% and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 1.07% in the main market, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.The industrials sector index tanked 2.12%, banks and financial services (0.86%), real estate (0.84%), transport (0.34%), insurance (0.31%) and consumer goods and services (0.16%); while telecom gained 1.47%.Major losers in the main market included Industries Qatar, QLM, Salam International Investment, Alijarah Holding, QIIB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Estithmar Holding, Barwa and Mazaya Qatar. In the venture market, Mahhar Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Dlala, Inma Holding, Widam Food, Ooredoo, Qatari German Medical Devices, Baladna, Beema and Qatar Islamic Insurance were among the gainers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.The foreign institutions’ net selling increased noticeably to QR17.89mn compared to QR3.54mn on August 7.The Arab individual investors’ net selling strengthened markedly to QR5.76mn against QR0.99mn on Monday.The foreign individuals turned net profit takers to the tune of QR0.45mn compared with net buyers of QR0.48mn the previous day.The domestic institutions’ net buying weakened substantially to QR4.72mn against QR17.69mn on August 7.However, the local retail investors’ net buying increased significantly to QR19.41mn compared to QR6.24mn on Monday.The Gulf individuals’ net buying strengthened perceptibly to QR1.48mn against QR0.31mn the previous day.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking shrank considerably to QR1.51mn compared to QR20.19mn on August 7.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure.Trade volumes in the main market were up 13% to 124.53mn shares, value by 17% to QR392.69mn and deals by 7% to 15,669.The venture market saw an 18% plunge in trade volumes to 0.55mn equities, 25% in value to QR1.06mn and 13% in transactions to 111.

The proposed single window committee is expected to ease and streamline the listing process in the Qatar’s capital market, leading the country’s bourse to see brisk activities on an expected faster approval of listings and instruments in the future, according to experts."As the name suggests, there is no need to apply in various authorities. This, in itself, will cut down the time taken for the approval. The (opportunity) cost (towards listing) also comes down in the process," an analyst with a leading brokerage house said.Early last month, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) issued a resolution to establish a "Single Window Committee for the Capital Market" with the goal of reducing time and effort and significantly simplifying procedures for companies whose activities are related to the financial markets in the country.“The move makes it easier for the issuers to process their applications,” he said, adding the stage is set for smooth and speedier initial public offerings (IPOs) and follow-on issues as well as other instruments such as exchange traded funds and derivatives.According to Dr Tami bin Ahmed al-Binali, QFMA chief executive officer, the establishment of a "Single Window Committee for the Capital Market" represents an important step forward as it will facilitate and simplify procedures for companies active in the country's financial market.The 11-member Committee will have five members from the QFMA, four from the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), and each from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Edaa (formerly Qatar Central Securities Depository Company).Among the other advantages provided by the 'one-stop-shop window for the capital market' for these companies is having streamlined and smooth processes for the public offering and listing of securities on QSE, whether upon their incorporation, conversion to a joint stock company, direct listing, or entry into any acquisitions or mergers.The listing process would speed up because the due diligence and other legwork start at least a year before the (actual) listing, market sources said.Since (multiple) authorities concerned are in the committee, the chance of delay at each step comes down as the new single window system will be the nodal point, which will vet the applications based on the broad guidelines set by the QFMA, according to the sources.The proposed single window committee comes amid reports of more listings expected, considering that the procedural reforms as direct listing and book-building mechanism ought to attract more companies.Having put in place a new trading mechanism, the Qatari bourse is all set to move into a T+2 settlement cycle compared to T+3. The initiative is in line with international best practices in regional and international markets, to achieve efficiency, and reduce the risks of long settlement period.

The Gulf institutions substantially stronger net selling Monday dragged the Qatar Stock Exchange more than 17 points but overall its key index stood above 10,800 levels..text-box { float:left; width:250px; padding:1px; border:1pt white; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 20px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.text-box {width: 30%;}}**media[62830]**The telecom, industrials, real estate and consume goods counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.16% lower at 10,803.54 points.The foreign institutions were seen net profit takers in the main market, which saw the index touch an intraday high of 10,837 points.The foreign individuals’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main bourse, whose year-to-date gains stood at 1.15%.About 49% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market, whose capitalisation shrank QR1.27n or 0.2% to QR635.03bn with small cap segments losing the most.The Gulf retail investors’ lower net buying had its say in the main bourse, which saw a total of 19,284 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.14mn changed hands across 11 deals.However, the domestic institutions turned bullish in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Total Return Index shed 0.16%, All Share Index by 0.09% and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.29% in the main market, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes.The telecom sector index tanked 1.61%, industrials (0.96%), realty (0.71%), and consumer goods and services (0.24%); while insurance gained 0.5%, banks and financial services (0.39%) and transport (0.35%).Major losers in the main market included Baladna, Widam Food, Ooredoo, Alijarah Holding, Qatari German Medical Devices, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qamco, Ezdan and Barwa. In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mahhar Holding saw their shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, QLM, Ahlibank Qatar, Medicare Group, Al Meera and Qatar Islamic Bank were among the gainers in the main bourse.The Gulf institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR20.19mn compared with net buyers of QR12.39mn on August 6.The foreign institutions were net sellers to the extent of QR3.54mn against net buyers of QR8.9mn on Sunday.The foreign retail investors’ net buying declined perceptibly to QR0.48mn compared to QR2.72mn the previous day.The Gulf individuals’ net buying weakened marginally to QR0.31mn against QR0.55mn on August 6.However, the domestic funds were net buyers to the extent of QR17.69mn compared with net sellers of QR7.37mn on Sunday.The local retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR6.24mn against net profit takers of QR8.04mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors’ net selling shrank noticeably to QR0.99mn compared to QR9.16mn on August 6.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure.Trade volumes in the main market were down 4% to 110.13mn shares, but value shot up 35% to QR334.59mn and deals by 69% to 14,597.The venture market saw a 68% surge in trade volumes to 0.67mn equities, 83% in value to QR1.41mn and 61% in transactions to 127.

Qatar’s non-energy sector witnessed a rosy start in the second half of 2023 with output, new orders, employment and purchasing witnessing expansion, according to Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).The latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey data from the QFC said backlogged work continued to fall, albeit less so than in the first half of the year, while inflationary pressures eased.The Qatar PMI indices are compiled from survey responses from a panel of around 450 private sector companies. The panel covers the manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, and services sectors, and reflects the structure of the non-energy economy according to official national accounts data.The headline PMI – a composite single-figure indicator of non-energy private sector performance that is derived from indicators for new orders, output, employment, suppliers’ delivery times and stocks of purchases – posted 54 in July, up slightly from 53.8 in June, indicating another strong improvement in business conditions.The latest figure was a superior outcome relative to the first half of 2023 (52.5) and remained well above the long-run trend of 52.3.“Qatar PMI data continued to point to an expansion of the non-energy private sector as we enter the second half of 2023. The latest headline figure of 54.0 is well above the long-run survey average as total business activity and demand both rose strongly in July," said Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive officer, QFC Authority.Companies also stepped up hiring as a slower fall in outstanding work hinted at returning pressure on business capacity, according to him.Total business activity among Qatari non-energy private sector firms rose further in July. Output has risen every month for more than three years, except for a brief correction in January following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The rate of expansion accelerated since June and was the second-strongest of 2023 so far."The 12-month outlook for the non-energy private sector remained optimistic in July. Higher expected business volumes were linked to new sales strategies, new hires, tourism and new products," it said, adding positive expectations remained broad-based by sector with service providers being the most optimistic, followed by goods producers.July data signalled another increase in non-oil private sector employment and at the fastest rate since July 2022.Recruitment was aimed both at new workloads and efforts to clear backlogs, which were reduced for the twelfth successive month. Supply chains continued to improve as average lead times fell for the fifteenth successive month, a series-record sequence.Input inventories rose only slightly, suggesting companies managed stock levels well during the month.Price pressures eased in July, as the overall input prices index fell since June and was at a level indicative of a marginal rate of inflation. Meanwhile, output prices fell for the third month running, albeit only marginally.Qatar's financial services sector continued to expand markedly at the start of the second half of 2023. Growth in new business remained sharp, leading to another strong rise in total activity. The outlook brightened since June and employment in the sector rose at the strongest rate in over a year."Financial services remains a strong point for the economy, with the key indices for activity and new business both remaining elevated in July, while employment in the sector rose at the strongest rate in over a year," al-Jaida said.

Hotel apartments in Qatar saw improved rooms' yield on an annualised basis in June 2023, even as revenue per available room in the country’s overall hospitality sector was on the decline, according to official statistics.During the period in review, the occupancy increased in deluxe hotel apartments; while it fell in star hotels and standard hotel apartments, according to the figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority.The deluxe hotel apartments registered a 4.4% year-on-year increase in average revenue available per room to QR190 this June with occupancy jumping 11% to 58%, even as the average room rate in the category was seen dipping 14.55% on an annualised basis to QR329 in the review period.However, Qatar's overall hospitality sector saw a 20.5% year-on-year plunge in average revenue per available room to QR221 in June 2023 as the average room rate declined 14.56% to QR405 and occupancy by 4% to 55% in the review period.The lower rooms’ yield comes amidst a 93.6% year-on-year increase in visitor arrivals to 281,994. On a monthly basis, the total visitor arrivals, was down 1.1% in June 2023.The visitor arrivals from the Gulf Co-operation Council or GCC were 118,597 or 42% of the total, followed by other Asia (including Oceania) 78,045 (28%), Europe 35,415 (13%), other Arab countries 26,261 (9%), Americas 18,034 (6%), and other African countries 5,642 (2%) in the review period.On an annualised basis, the visitor arrivals from other Arab countries zoomed 159.1%, other African countries by 135.2%, other Asia (including Oceania) by 131%, GCC by 98.9%, Europe by 44.5% and Americas by 18.7% in June 2023.On a month-on-month basis, the visitor arrivals from the GCC declined 13.6%, Americas by 5%, other Asia (including Oceania) by 4.6% and other Arab countries by 0.1%; whereas there was a 27% jump in those coming from Europe and 9% in other African countries in the review period.In the case of five-star hotels, the average revenue per available room decreased 24.29% to QR293 in June 2023 as the average room rate fell 6.22% to QR603 and the occupancy by 11% to 49%.The average revenue per available room in the four-star hotels plummeted 19.74% on a yearly basis to QR122 in June 2023 as the occupancy plunged 6% to 43% and the average room rate by 10.63% to QR227.The three-star hotels saw a 20.73% year-on-year contraction in average revenue per available room to QR130 as the average room rate shrank 13.43% to QR174 and the occupancy by 7% to 75% in the review period.The two-star and one-star hotels' average revenue per available room tanked 19.53% year-on-year to QR136 this June as the occupancy plummeted by 6% to 89% and the average room rate by 14.04% to QR153 at the end of June this year.In the case of standard hotel apartments, the room yield improved by 3.11% year-on-year to QR166 in June 2023 as the average room rate rose 5.8% to QR219 despite 2% lower occupancy at 76%.

Qatar's maritime sector witnessed a more than 5% jump in transshipment volumes this July compared to that in June 2023, as 100,842 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and more than 166,000 tonnes of cargo were handled at Hamad, Doha and Ruwais ports, according to Mwani Qatar.As many as 226 ships had called on Qatar's three ports in July 2023, which was 14.72% higher than in June 2023. But it was down 6.22% on annualised basis, the official data has suggested.A total of 1,542 ships had called on the three ports during the first seven months of this year."The maritime sector of Qatar has undergone a significant transformation in recent years,” Mwani Qatar had said in a tweet.Hamad Port – whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf, supporting countries such as Kuwait and Iraq and south towards Oman – saw as many as 139 vessels call on the port in the review period.The container handling through the three ports rose 5.08% month-on-month but declined 17.26% on an annualised basis in July this year.The container terminals have been designed to address the increasing trade volume, enhance ease of doing business and support economic diversification, which is one of the most vital goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.Hamad Port, which is the largest eco-friendly project in the region and internationally recognised as one of the largest green ports in the world, saw 98,879 TEUs of containers handled this July.The container volume at the three ports stood at 733,871 TEUs during January-July 2023.The general and bulk cargo handled through the three ports stood at 166,113 tonnes in July 2023, which grew more than eight fold month-on-month and more than doubled year-on-year in the review period.Hamad Port – whose multi-use terminal is designed to serve the supply chains for the RORO (vehicles), grains and livestock – handled 95,582 freight tonnes of breakbulk and 66,900 freight tonnes of bulk in July this year.A total of 937,996 freight tonnes of general and bulk cargoes were handled by the three ports during the first seven months of this year.The three ports handled 6,044 RORO in July 2023, which registered a 19.87% and 15.81% decrease month-on-month and year-on-year respectively. Hamad Port alone handled 6,037 units in July this year.A total of 46,206 RORO units were handled by three ports during January-July 2023.The building materials traffic through the three ports stood at 35,296 tonnes in July 2023, which shrank 14.21% and 1.44% month-on-month and year-on-year respectively.As much as 309,990 tonnes of building materials were handled by Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports during the first seven months of 2023.The three ports had handled 5,468 livestock in July 2023, which showed 76.96% and 21.01% decrease on yearly and monthly basis respectively.As many as 299,499 livestock heads were handled by three ports during January-July this year.

In a significant development aimed at enhancing the efficiency of Qatar's capital market, Edaa announced a reduction in the settlement period for transactions executed on the Qatar Stock Exchange from T+3 to T+2, starting from January 2024. This initiative comes in coordination with the Qatar Central Bank, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority, and the Qatar Stock Exchange, as part of efforts to modernise the mechanisms of the Qatari financial market, expedite trading activities, and attract investments in securities. The strategic initiative that complements the Qatar financial market development initiatives focuses on reducing the settlement period for trades executed on the Qatar Stock Exchange from three business days following the transaction (T+3) to only two business days (T+2)."We collaborate with all partners, under the guidance of QFMA to achieve a set of short-term goals. Our key priorities are to facilitate transactions for our local and global investors, and to ensure operational efficiency. This initiative embodies our commitment to achieving these goals," said Sheikh Saif bin Abdullah al-Thani, chief executive officer of Edaa.Edaa anticipates applying the new settlement period by the beginning of next year (January 2, 2024).This will allow institutional investors, local and foreign portfolio managers to prepare to fulfil the technical requirements on their end.Concurrently, Edaa will work with these stakeholders to provide support in applying the necessary regulatory and technical amendments, and coordinate with them to secure smooth settlement operations.Global fund managers have been eyeing the fastest growing economy due to its strong macro fundamentals, especially after Doha unveiled its plans to enhance its liquefied natural gas production to 126mn tonnes per annum by 2027, which offered indirect benefits to the private sector as well.In 2014, most markets in Europe transitioned to T+2 settlement cycle, while the settlement cycle in the US is T+2 for equities and corporate bonds and T+0 or T+1 for the money market instruments and government securities, and Hong Kong has 'T+2' cycle.A key industry demand has been to shorten the settlement cycle in view of Qatar having the necessary enablers such as the market and technological infrastructure.A cost-benefit analysis of the shortened settlement cycle has found that major bourses across the world favoured shortened settlement period as it helped reduce clearing and settlement risk as well as the overall costs for the securities' industry, thus making the market safer.The significant improvements in straight through processing and the underlying technology over the last few years call for a shortened settlement cycle, which at this point of time greatly improves volume and liquidity in the system, market experts said.

The foreign funds’ increased buying interests Tuesday led the Qatar Stock Exchange gain more than 145 points and its index crossed the 11,100 levels, reflecting the three-.text-box { float:left; width:250px; padding:1px; border:1pt white; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 20px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.text-box {width: 30%;}}**media[59949]**year high oil price.A higher than average demand, particularly in the industrials sector, lifted the 20-stock Qatar Index 1.32% to 11,108 points.The Gulf institutions turned bullish in the main market, which saw the index touch an intraday high of 11,126 points.The Arab retail investors’ weakened net profit booking had its influence in the main bourse, whose year-to-date gains strengthened to 4%.However, more than 51% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market, whose capitalisation added QR7.786n or 1.22% to QR649.86bn with midcap segments gaining the most.The local retail investors were increasingly bearish in the main bourse, which saw a total of 0.27mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.65mn changed hands across 22 deals.The domestic institutions were also increasingly net sellers in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the other indices in the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Total Return Index soared 1.32%, All Share Index by 1.13% and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 1.36% in the main market, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.The industrials sector index shot up 2.46%, banks and financial services (1.07%), real estate (1.05%), telecom (0.89%), consumer goods and services (0.21%) and insurance (0.05%); while transport declined 0.6%.Major movers in the main market included Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Dukhan Bank, Barwa, Industries Qatar, Qamco, Commercial Bank, QNB, Doha Bank, Qatar Electricity and Water and Ooredoo. In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mahhar Holding saw their shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Mannai Corporation, Alijarah Holding, QLM, Mekdam Holding, Qatar Oman Investment, Widam Food, Ezdan and Nakilat were among the losers in the main market.The foreign institutions’ net buying increased noticeably to QR87.24mn compared to QR75.3mn on July 31.The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the tune of QR30.93mn against net sellers of QR3.27mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors’ net selling decreased perceptibly to QR18.13mn compared to QR20.57mn on Monday.However, the local retail investors’ net profit booking grew substantially to QR51.53mn against QR14mn on July 31.The domestic funds’ net selling strengthened significantly to QR43.59mn compared to QR34.15mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors’ net profit booking expanded markedly to QR2.83mn against QR2.33mn on Monday.The Gulf individuals’ net selling increased notably to QR1.89mn compared to QR1.01mn on July 31.The Arab institutions turned net sellers to the extent of QR0.21mn against no major net exposure the previous day.Trade volumes in the main market were up 2% to 195.94mn shares, value by 9% to QR572.46mn and deals by 6% to 19,583.The venture market saw a 45% contraction in trade volumes to 1.14mn equities and 47% in value to QR2.52mn but on 7% jump in transactions to 251.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem in the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) is ripe with opportunities for the startups, according to top official of Invest Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar).These countries provide valuable resources, as workshops, incubators, mentors and co-working spaces, IPA Qatar chief executive officer Sheikh Ali Alwaleed al-Thani said in an article.Finding that angel investing has gained "significant" traction in the recent years, attracting substantial startup funding; he said this support has propelled three GCC countries – Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – to be placed within the top ten of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022/23 National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI).Entrepreneurship has emerged as a powerful catalyst for economic transformation and sustainable development, particularly in emerging markets, he said, adding countries like Malaysia, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay rely heavily on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to drive employment and foster growth.Creating a supportive ecosystem is essential for entrepreneurs to thrive in emerging markets, from pathways to connect with mentors, advisors and peers, to access to key resources and networks, he said in the article, which is part of Centre for the New Economy and Society of the World Economic Forum.Governments, corporations and non-profit organisations must collaborate to establish and fund business incubators and accelerators that encourage entrepreneurism, according to him.Qatar exemplifies this collaborative approach through key stakeholders, including the Qatar Development Bank (QDB); Qatar Foundation (QF); and Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).These entities actively empower entrepreneurs and startups to realise their full potential and achieve sustainable growth, Sheikh Ali said.QDB offers funding options, grants and technical assistance, QF provides initiatives and resources to support startups and QSTP offers services, such as office space, mentorship and funding opportunities."These stakeholders, coupled with Qatar's favourable policies for entrepreneurship, including simplified business registration processes and funding accessibility, have created a conducive environment for the startups to thrive," he said.Identifying four keys to entrepreneurial success in emerging markets; he suggested governments and organisations in these markets should establish and fund tailored support programmes for entrepreneurs.Governments can, for example, create entrepreneurship development funds that provide low-interest loans and grants for MSMEs in emerging markets, he said.PPPs or public-private partnerships can facilitate the establishment of business incubators, accelerators and co-working spaces for entrepreneurs, according to him. Corporations can sponsor mentorship programmes or provide in-kind support, while government agencies can offer regulatory incentives for private sector involvement.Sheikh Ali said innovative financing models can help address funding challenges faced by entrepreneurs in emerging markets."Governments can support these models through regulatory frameworks and collaborate with financial institutions to establish specialised impact investment funds and crowdfunding platforms for entrepreneurs in emerging markets," he suggested.Entrepreneurship education should be integrated into formal education systems, vocational training programmes and community initiatives to help navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business, he said.Through collaboration, governments and educational institutions can develop relevant and up-to-date curricula that align with the needs of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, he added.

Qatar's producers' price index (PPI), which captures the price pressure felt by the producers of goods and services, eased this May on both annualised and monthly basis, according to the official estimates.The country's PPI plummeted 31.33% year-on-year owing to a noticeable decline in the indices of hydrocarbons and certain manufactured products such as chemicals, refined petroleum products and basic metals, according to the figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA).The PPI saw a 3.24% contraction month-on-month in June 2023 on hydrocarbons as well as refined petroleum products, chemicals and rubber and plastics products.The PPI measures inflation from the perspective of costs to industry or producers of products as it measures price changes before they reach consumers.The PSA had released a new PPI series in late 2015. With a base of 2013, it draws on an updated sampling frame and new weights. The previous sampling frame dates from 2006, when the Qatari economy was much smaller than today and the range of products made domestically much narrower.The lower expectations on global inflation and its appurtenant reaction within the central banks expect to scale back the pace of interest rate increases, which is expected to get reflected in the industrial PPI.The mining PPI, which carries the maximum weight of 82.46%, reported a 31.42% plunge on an annualised basis in June 2023 owing to 31.46% shrinkage in the index of crude petroleum and natural gas and 0.28% in other mining and quarrying segments.The mining sector PPI had seen a 3.05% dip month-on-month in June 2023 as the index of crude petroleum and natural gas was seen plummeting 3.05%, while that of other mining and quarrying segments was flat.The manufacturing sector PPI, which has a weight of 15.85% in the basket, tanked 33.54% on a yearly basis in June 2023 due to a 41.13% decline in the index of chemicals and chemical products, 33.15% in refined petroleum products, 23.54% in basic metals, 1.26% in cement and other non-metallic mineral products, 0.84% in printing and reproduction of recorded media, and 0.29% in rubber and plastics products. Nevertheless, there was a 4.11% surge in the index of food products and 1.82% in beverages in the review period.The manufacturing PPI shrank 4.43% on a monthly basis in June 2023 on account of a 5.34% decrease in the index of chemicals and chemical products, 4.58% in refined petroleum products, 4.22% in basic metals, 3.92% in rubber and plastics products, 1.02% in cement and other non-metallic mineral products, and 0.16% in beverages; even as there was a 0.18% jump in the index of food products.The index of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply - which has a weight of 1.16% in the PPI basket - reported a 0.39% rise on a yearly basis but fell 3.6% month-on-month this June.The index of water supply - which has weight of 0.53% in the PPI, was seen expanding 18.02% year-on-year but was down 0.44% month-on-month in June 2023.

The Qatar Stock Exchange Monday was on a roller-coaster drive to finally settle mere nine points higher despite strong buying support from foreign institutions..text-box { float:left; width:250px; padding:1px; border:1pt white; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 20px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.text-box {width: 30%;}}**media[59949]**A higher than average demand was visible in the counters of banking, transport, consumer goods and telecom as the 20-stock Qatar Index edged up 0.08% to 10,962.95 points.The local retail investors’ weakened net selling pressure had its marginal influence in the main market, which saw the index touch an intraday low of 10,913 points.However, more than 53% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose year-to-date gains improved to 2.64%.The domestic institutions were increasingly into net selling in the main market, whose capitalisation was down QR0.75bn or 0.12% to QR642bn with microcap cap segments losing the most.The Arab retail investors were seen bearish in the main bourse, which saw a total of 0.11mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.39mn changed hands across 23 deals.The Gulf institutions turned net profit takers in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Islamic index declined vis-à-vis marginal gains in the other indices in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Total Return Index was up 0.08% and All Share Index by 0.09%, while Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) was down 0.03% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes.The banks and financial services sector index gained 0.75%, transport (0.56%), consumer goods and services (0.47%) and telecom (0.4%); while industrials shrank 1.68%, real estate 0.46% and insurance 0.31%.Major movers in the main market included Qatar Islamic Bank, United Development Company, QLM, Woqod, Baladna, Doha Bank and Milaha. In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar Oman Investment, Industries Qatar, Inma Holding, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Zad Holding, Masraf Al Rayan, Widam Food, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Barwa, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar and Gulf Warehousing were among the shakers in the main market. In the juniour bourse, Mahhar Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.The foreign institutions’ net buying increased significantly to QR75.3mn compared to QR26.45mn on July 30.The local retail investors’ net profit booking weakened noticeably to QR14mn against QR32.19mn the previous day.However, the domestic funds’ net selling strengthened substantially to QR34.15mn compared to QR17.4mn on Sunday.The Arab individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR20.57mn against net buyers of QR10.2mn on July 30.The Gulf institutions were net sellers to the extent of QR3.27mn compared with net buyers of QR10.99mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors turned net profit takers to the tune of QR2.33mn against net buyers of QR1.69mn on Sunday.The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR1.01mn compared with net buyers of QR0.25mn on July 30.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight session.Trade volumes in the main market shrank 3% to 191.95mn shares but value increased 35% to QR526.68mn and deals by 55% to 18,510.The venture market saw trade volumes more than double to 2.09mn equities and value by also more than double to QR4.74mn on 76% surge in transactions to 235.

Qatar has seen a cumulative 5% or 500 basis points (bps) hike in interest rates since January 2022, even as the central bank outlined four major priority sectors that would not bear the brunt of rate hike on their outstanding loans.The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) on Wednesday increased the repo rate, deposit and lending rates by 25 basis points, the US Fed raised the reference rates (by 25 basis points) to their highest level in more than two decades, raising hopes that the latest hike could be the last for a long time.The repo rate in Qatar has increased by a cumulative 5% or 500 bps from the beginning of 2022. Since January 2022, QCB repo rate has risen from 1% to 1.25% in March, then to 1.75% in May, 2.5% in June, 3.25% in July, 4% in September, 4.75% in November, 5.25% in December, 5.5% in March, 5.75% in May 2023 and the 6% in July. In 2022, the average repo rate was 2.77% and it was 1% in 2021.The increasing repo rate comes in view of the fixed exchange parity with the greenback; otherwise higher-yielding dollar-based investments could put downward pressure on the local currency, market sources said, adding it may lead funds flow to bank deposits with higher returns and lower risk.The QCB lending rate has cumulatively increased by 3.75% or 375 bps from the beginning of 2022. It was seen jumping from 2.5% in January to 2.75% in May, 3.25% in June, 3.75% in July, 4.5% in September, 5% in November, 5.5% in December, 5.75% in March, 6% in May and the latest 6.25%. The average lending rate in 2021 was 2.5%.On credit facilities, the interest rate (weighted average) on loans less than one year was seen increasing to 6.5% in May 2023 against 4.01% in May 2022; on loans from one to three years to 6.83% (3.37%); and on loans of three years and above to 7.1% (4.27%).However, the QCB (on July 27) said there are various sectors that benefit from the non-increase in interest/return rates on the outstanding credit facilities in national banks.The eligible sectors include private housing and consumption loans to Qatari citizens; service sector; industrial manufacturing; and trading sector. Within the services sector that ought to benefit include tourism, restaurants, hotels, entertainment, mechanical workshops, exhibition and machinery repairs.Within the industrial manufacturing sector that ought to benefit include the segments such as food, clothing and leather, furniture and wood, bottled and canned soft drinks, and sanitary products.Similarly, the QCB deposit rate has cumulatively jumped by 4.75% or 475 bps, increasing from 1% in January 2022 to 1.5% in May, 2.25% in June, 3% in July, 3.75% in September, 4.5% in November, 5% in December 2022, 5.25% in March 2023, 5.5% in May 2023 and 5.75% this July. The average deposit rate stood at 1% in 2021.In terms of customer deposits, time deposits of one-month was seen surging to 2.74% in May 2023 compared to 1.52% in May 2022; three-month deposits to 5.46% (1.79%); six-month deposits to 4.84% (2.02%); one-year to 5.35% (2%) and more than one year to 4.54% (1.92%).The weighted average overnight interbank interest rate (on riyal) noticeably shot up from January 2022 when it was 0.28%. In July 2022, it spurted to 1.68%, 2.62% in August, 2.61% in September, 3.7% in October, 4.31% in November, 4.68% in December, 4.97% in January 2023, 5.02% in February 2023, 5.12% in March 2023, 5.3% in April 2023 and 5.51% in May 2023.

The last week’s positive rally got carried over in the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which Sunday opened the week on a stronger note as its key index gained more than 59.text-box { float:left; width:250px; padding:1px; border:1pt white; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 20px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.text-box {width: 30%;}}**media[59949]**points to surpass the 10,900 levels.The industrials and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.54% to 10,953.92 points.The Arab individuals turned net buyers in the main market, which recovered from an intraday low of 10,869 points.As much as 46% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose year-to-date gains improved to 2.55%.The Gulf retail investors were net bullish, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, whose capitalisation added QR3.41bn or 0.53% to QR642.75bn with small cap segments gaining the most.The domestic institutions’ weakened net profit booking had its influence in the main bourse, which saw a total of 59,232 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.35mn changed hands across 19 deals.The foreign institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity 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 market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Total Return Index gained 0.54%, All Share Index by 0.51% and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.48% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The industrials sector index shot up 1.46%, banks and financial services (0.55%) and consumer goods and services (0.4%); while transport declined 0.95%, realty (0.33%), telecom (0.29%) and insurance (0.16%).Major movers in the main market included Qamco, Qatar Industrial Industries Qatar, Zad Holding, Al Meera, Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank. In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mahhar Holding saw their shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar Oman Investment, Inma Holding, Qatar Electricity and Water, Milaha, Lesha Bank, Qatari German Medical Devices, Mannai Corporation, Baladna, Qatar National Cement and Barwa were among the shakers in the main market.The Arab individual investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR10.2mn compared with net sellers of QR4.25mn on July 27.The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR1.69mn against net sellers of QR3.02mn last Thursday.The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.25mn compared with net sellers of QR0.93mn the previous trading day.The domestic institutions’ net profit booking declined substantially to QR17.4mn against QR48.12mn on July 27.The Qatari individuals’ net selling weakened noticeably to QR32.19mn compared to QR50.02mn last Thursday.However, the foreign funds’ net buying decreased significantly to QR26.45mn against QR58.38mn the previous trading day.The Gulf institutions’ net buying shrank drastically to QR10.99mn compared to QR48.06mn on July 27.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against were net sellers to the tune of QR0.08mn last Thursday.The main market saw 19% shrinkage in trade volumes to 196.88mn shares, 37% in value to QR390.71mn and 41% in deals to 11,962.In the venture market, trade volumes grew more than five-fold to 0.93mn equities and value by more than seven-fold to QR2.05mn on more than quadrupled transactions to 134.

The US Federal Reserve’s rate hike and the Chinese stimulus had its positive impact on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) this week as its key index gained 448 points and.text-box { float:left; width:250px; padding:1px; border:1pt white; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 20px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.text-box {width: 30%;}}**media[59024]**capitalisation expanded about QR23bn.The Gulf institutions were increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shot up 4.29% this week which saw Ooredoo Group disclose its intent to ink pact with Zain Group and TASC Tower to form the largest tower company in the Middle East and North Africa. The industrials, real estate and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand this week which saw Capital Intelligence affirms long term foreign and local currency ratings of Qatar at ‘AA’ with “stable” outlook.The foreign funds were increasingly bullish this week which saw QIIB report net profit of QR615.08mn in the first half (H1) of 2023.As much as 72% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors this week which saw Barwa Real Estate's H1-2023 net profit at QR553mn.The Gulf retail investors’ weakened net selling had its influence in the main market this week which saw Doha Bank report H1 net profit of QR553mn.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices this week which saw Vodafone Qatar register net profit of QR259.84mn in H1-2023.The Arab institutions’ lower net profit booking pressure had its say in the main market this week which saw United Development Company’s H1-2023 net profit at QR187.59mn.However, the local retail investors were increasingly bearish in the main bourse this week which saw Aamal Company report net profit of QR166.8mn in January-June 2023.The domestic institutions were also increasingly net sellers this week which saw Gulf Warehousing’s net profit at QR114.82mn in H1-2023.The Arab individuals turned bearish this week which saw a total of 0.3mn Masraf Al Rayan-sponsored exchange-traded fund QATR worth QR0.7mn trade across 24 deals.The foreign retail investors were increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.14mn change hands across 17 transactions.Market capitalisation expanded 3.66% to QR639.34bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw the banks and realty sectors together constitute more than 62% of the total trade volume in the main market.The Total Return Index soared 4.29%, the All Share Index by 4% and the All Islamic Index by 3.71% this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The industrials sector index zoomed 5.91%, real estate (5.64%), banks and financial services (4.87%), transport (1.5%), insurance (0.38%) and consumer goods and services (0.14%); while telecom declined 1.4% this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.Major gainers in the main market included Qatar Oman Investment, Barwa, Industries Qatar, Inma Holding, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, QIIB, Alijarah Holding, Qatari German Medical Devices, Barwa, Ezdan and Milaha. In the venture market, Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value this week, which saw Qatar Industrial Manufacturing report net profit of QR107.21mn in H1-2023.Nevertheless, Ooredoo, Mekdam Holding, Zad Holding, Estithmar Holding, Ahlibank Qatar and Nakilat were among the losers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its scrips depreciate in value this week, which saw Qatar’s trade surplus amount to QR17.41bn in June 2023.The Gulf institutions’ net buying increased noticeably to QR186.96mn compared to QR162.58mn the week ended June 20.The foreign institutions’ net buying expanded substantially to QR68.36mn against QR48.19mn the previous week.The Gulf individuals’ net selling declined perceptibly to QR2.13mn compared to QR3.45mn a week ago.The Arab institutions’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR0.12mn against QR0.44mn the week ended June 20.However, the local retail investors’ net selling strengthened markedly to QR131.84mn compared to QR128.98mn the previous week.The domestic institutions’ net profit booking jumped considerably to QR98.62mn against QR73.28mn a week ago.The foreign individuals’ net selling shot up notably to QR13.97mn compared to QR10.88mn the week ended June 20.The Arab retail investors turned net sellers to the extent of QR8.65mn against net buyers of QR6.26mn the previous week.The main market witnessed a 19% jump in trade volumes to 1.11mn shares, 20% in value to QR2.63bn and 3% in deals to 85,534 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes plunged 41% to 1.78mn equities, value by 37% to QR3.86mn and transactions by 39% to 323.

Qatar’s exports to Japan, China and India were on the rise this June compared to those in May 2023, as the country reported trade surplus of QR17.41bn, according to the official statistics.However, the foreign merchandise trade surplus reported 4.4% and 42.3% contraction month-on-month and year-on-year respectively in the review period, according to the figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority.More than 60% of the exports went to China, South Korea, Japan, India and Singapore,In June 2023, Qatar's shipments to China amounted to QR5.39bn or 20.1% of the total exports of the country, followed by South Korea QR3.2bn (11.9%), India QR3.17bn (11.8%), Japan QR2.47bn (9.2%), and (Singapore QR1.94bn (7.2%).On a monthly basis, Qatar's exports to Japan zoomed 66.28%, China by 16.19% and India by 2.52%; while those to South Korea and Singapore declined 10.02% and 0.21% respectively in June 2023.On a yearly basis, the country's exports to Japan plunged 37.35%, India by 24.53%, South Korea by 22.91%, Singapore by 15.72%, and China by 10.1% in the review period.The country's total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) were QR26.83bn, showing a 32% and 3.5% decline year-on-year and month-on-month respectively in June 2023.The country’s exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons were valued at QR16.42bn, which plummeted 29.7% on an annualised basis; crude at QR4.78bn (126.4%); non-crude at QR2.23bn (46.9%) and other commodities at QR2.42bn (47.3%) in June 2023.On a monthly basis, the exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons were down 5.1% and other commodities by 22%; whereas those of non-crude and crude expanded 13% and 6.9% respectively in the review period.Petroleum gases constituted 63.54% of the exports of domestic products in June 2023 compared to 60.44% a year ago period; followed by crude 18.5% (16.8%), non-crude 8.63% (10.88%) and other commodities 9.37% (11.89%).Qatar's total imports (valued at cost insurance and freight) amounted to QR9.42bn, which showed a 1.1% increase month-on-month; even as it fell 1.8% on an annualised basis in June 2023.The country's imports from the US amounted to QR1.84bn, which accounted for 19.5% of the total imports; China QR1.33bn (14.1%); Germany QR0.53bn (5.6%), India QR0.52bn (5.5%) and Italy QR0.48bn (5.1%) in the review period.On a monthly basis, the country's imports from China declined 5.28%, India by 3.35% and the US by 0.59%; whereas those from Germany and Italy increased 13.92% and 2.36% respectively in June 2023.On a yearly basis, Qatar's imports from Germany were seen plummeting 35.03%, India by 16.69%, China by 16.65% and Italy by 14.64%; while those from the US shot up 55.76% in the review period.In June 2023, the group of "Turbojets, Turbo propellers and Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" was at the top of the imported group of commodities and valued at QR0.5bn, showing an annual expansion of 37.2%In the second place was "Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons”, with QR0.4bn, an increase 44.5% year-on-year in the review period.In third place was “Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses" valued at QR0.3bn, showing increase of 34.7% in June 2023 on an annualised basis.