The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday settled marginally down, mainly on account weakened buying interests of foreign institutions.
The real estate, industrials and consumer goods counters witnessed higher-than-average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.06% lower at 10,451.13 points.
There was also increased net selling pressure from domestic institutions in the market, whose sensitive index is up 1.48% year-to-date.
Market capitalisation was down QR64mn, or 0.11%, to QR588.11bn mainly owing to the midcap segments.
Islamic equities were seen declining faster than the main index in the market, where Gulf institutions turned net buyers.
Trade turnover declined amidst higher volumes in the bourse, where the banking sector alone accounted for about 42% of the total volume.
The Total Return Index was down 0.06% to 19,230.96 points, the All Share Index by 0.18% to 3,189.36 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.67% to 2,364.73 points.
The realty index declined 1.6%, industrials (1.06%), consumer goods (0.45%) and telecom (0.1%); whereas transport gained 0.54%, banks and financial services (0.46%) and insurance (0.11%).
More than 52% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Mazaya Qatar, Ezdan, Al Khaleej Takaful, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Aamal Company and United Development Company; even as Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Ahlibank Qatar, Qatari German Company for Medical Devices and Nakilat were among the prime gainers.
Domestic institutions’ net selling increased influentially to QR18.01mn compared to QR1.64mn on Wednesday.
Non-Qatari institutions’ net buying weakened considerably to QR24.24mn against QR58.95mn the previous day.
However, Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.59mn compared with net sellers of QR4.8mn on April 25.
Gulf individuals were also net buyers to the extent of QR0.08mn against net sellers of QR0.18mn on Wednesday.
Local retail investors’ net profit booking declined significantly to QR6.1mn compared to QR46.19mn the previous day.
Non-Qatari individuals’ net selling shrank noticeably to QR2.83mn against QR6.11mn on April 25.
Total trade volume rose 38% to 13.44mn shares, while value fell 10% to QR264.08mn despite 6% higher transactions at 5,433.
The insurance sector’s trade volume soared 82% to 0.31mn equities, value by 2% to QR6.19mn and deals by 5% to 206.
The industrials sector reported a 66% surge in trade volume to 3.46mn stocks, 21% in value to QR58.15mn and 38% in transactions to 1,737.
The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume shot up 64% to 5.63mn shares, while value declined 22% to QR120.79mn despite 2% higher deals at 1,720.
There was a 44% expansion in the realty sector’s trade volume to 3.1mn shares, 19% in value to QR36.6mn and 2% in transactions to 1,008.
However, the telecom sector’s trade volume plummeted 62% to 0.39mn equities, value by 53% to QR6.83mn and deals by 41% to 261.
The consumer goods sector reported a 37% plunge in trade volume to 0.22mn shares and 12% in value to QR22.09mn but on a 23% growth in transactions to 353.
The transport sector’s trade volume tanked 33% to 0.34mn equities, value by 2% to QR13.43mn and deals by 48% to 148.
In the debt market, there was no trading of treasury bills and sovereign bonds.
