Buying interests, particularly in the banking and real estate sectors, on Wednesday lifted the Qatar Stock Exchange by about 25 points but failed to surpass 10,300 levels.
Foreign institutions were increasingly bullish as the 20-stock Qatar Index gained 0.24% to 10,292.82 points.
However, there was higher selling pressure from local retail investors and domestic funds on the market, which is up 20.76% year-to-date.
Market capitalisation rose about QR3bn or 0.48% to QR581.73bn, mainly on account of large cap equities.
Islamic equities were seen gaining slower than the other indices on the market, where non-Qatari individuals turned bearish.
Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline on the bourse, where banking and real estate sectors together accounted for more than 65% of the total volume.
The Total Return Index gained 0.24% to 18,134.81 points, All Share Index by 0.42% to 3,062.03 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.01% to 2,400.27 points.
The banks and financial services index soared 1.26% and realty (0.48%); while insurance declined 1.55%, consumer goods (0.62%), telecom (0.39%), consumer goods (0.17%) and transport (0.01%).
About 59% of the traded stocks extended gains with major gainers being QNB, Doha Bank, Qatar Islamic bank, Qatar Electricity and Water, Ezdan and Vodafone Qatar; whereas Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qatar Insurance and Ooredoo were among the losers.
Non-Qatari institutions’ net buying increased significantly to QR60.76mn compared to QR4.46mn on Tuesday.
The Gulf individuals’ net selling weakened marginally to QR0.02mn against QR0.1mn the previous day.
However, local individuals’ net selling strengthened influentially to QR37.05mn compared to QR1.69mn on November 20.
Domestic institutions’ net profit booking also grew considerably to QR21.05mn against QR8.62mn on Tuesday.
Non-Qatari individuals turned net profit takers to the extent of QR2.2mn compared with net buyers of QR1.39mn the previous day.
Total trade volume fell 15% to 4.17mn shares, value by 14% to QR168.12mn and transactions by 7% to 3,593.
The banks and financial services sector saw 42% plunge in trade volume to 1.5mn equities, 22% in value to QR91.42mn and 11% in deals to 1,537.
The transport sector’s trade volume plummeted 38% to 0.05mn stocks, value by 39% to QR1.73mn and transactions by 37% to 82.
However, the insurance sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 0.13mn shares and value also more than doubled to QR3.6mn on 26% jump in deals to 88.
There was 31% surge in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 1.22mn equities and 86% in value to QR33.95mn but on 2% fall in transactions to 716.
The consumer goods sector’s trade volume soared 20% to 0.18mn stocks, while value declined 46% to QR8.19mn and deals by 24% to 284.
The telecom sector reported 2% growth in trade volume to 0.58mn shares but on 66% shrinkage in value to QR6.36mn and 24% in transactions to 186.
The industrials sector’s trade volume was up 2% to 0.52mn equities, value by less than 1% to QR22.86mn and deals by 18% to 700.
In the debt market, there was no trading of treasury bills and sovereign bonds.
