The Qatar Stock Exchange on Monday gained more than 18 points, mainly on transport, telecom and real estate counters.
Domestic funds’ bullish outlook rather drove the 20-stock Qatar Index up 0.21% to 8,531.26 points, although it touched a high of 8,583 points with only 45 minutes to close.
The Gulf and foreign individuals continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity on the bourse, whose year-to-date losses stood at 18.17%.
Market capitalisation saw QR74mn or 0.15% increase to QR479.17bn mainly owing to microcap segments.
Islamic stocks were seen gaining faster than the main index on the market, where foreign funds were increasingly net sellers and the Arab individuals turned bearish.
Trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes on the market, where realty and consumer goods sectors together accounted for more than 40% of the total trading volume.
The Total Return Index rose 0.21% to 16,401.06 points, All Share Index by 0.22% to 2,654.17 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.5% to 1,862.48 points.
The transport index soared 1.81%, telecom (1.54%), real estate (0.88%), industrials (0.51%) and consumer goods and services (0.01%); whereas insurance fell 0.79% and banks and financial services (0.04%).
More than 53% of the traded constituents extended gains with major movers being Milaha, Nakilat, Ooredoo, United Development Company, Barwa, Qatari Investors Group, Gulf International Services, Industries Qatar, Doha Bank, Masraf Al Rayan, Alijarah Holding, Dlala, Widam Food, Baladna and Al Meera; even as Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Aamal Company, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank and Commercial Bank were among the losers.
Domestic funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR39.49mn compared with net sellers of QR7.36mn on April 26.
However, Qatari individuals were net seller to the extent of QR26.53mn against net buyers of QR2.47mn on Sunday.
Foreign institutions’ net profit booking grew noticeably to QR9.97mn compared to QR6.57mn the previous day.
The Arab individuals were seen net sellers to the tune of QR2.51mn against net buyers of QR6.45mn on April 26.
The Gulf funds turned net sellers to the extent of QR1.38mn compared with net buyers of QR2.36mn on Sunday.
The Gulf individuals’ net buying declined perceptibly to QR0.58mn against QR2.22mn the previous day.
Foreign individuals’ net buying weakened marginally to QR0.32mn compared to QR0.43mn on April 26.
The Arab institutions had no major exposure.
Total trade volumes fell 37% to 148.05mn shares, while value grew 49% to QR288.03mn and transactions by 80% to 9,359.
The real estate sector’s trade volume plummeted 71% to 40.29mn equities, value by 67% to QR31.38mn and deals by 37% to 1,084.
The transport sector’s trade volume grew almost six-fold to 8.5mn stocks and value also rose almost six-fold to QR20.79mn on almost five-fold jump in transactions to 670.
The insurance sector reported 79% surge in trade volume to 1.4mn shares and 81% in value to QR2.81mn on more than tripled deals to 213.
The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume shot up 31% to 27.87mn equities and value almost tripled to QR110.83mn on more than doubled transactions to 3,621.
The telecom sector saw 22% expansion in trade volume to 11.01mn stocks and 88% in value to QR19.82mn on more than tripled deals to 947.
The industrials sector’s trade volume was up 9% to 27.57mn shares and value more than doubled to QR45.85mn on 54% increase in transactions to 1,213.
The market witnessed 1% rise in the consumer goods and services sector's trade volume to 36.4mn equities on more than doubled value to QR56.55mn and almost doubled deals to 1,611.
In the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.
