The Qatar Stock Exchange on Wednesday lost 72 points to settle below 9,200 levels, mainly dragged by banks and industrials equities.

Foreign funds were increasingly net sellers and the Gulf institutions turned bearish as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.78% lower at 9,186.11 points, although it touched a high of 9,261 points within seconds of opening.

Domestic institutions’ lower buying interests also had a role in dampening the sentiments in the bourse, whose year-to-date losses stood at 11.89%.

Market capitalisation saw about QR4bn or 0.73% decline to QR521.37bn mainly owing to midcap segments.

Islamic stocks were seen declining slower than the other indices in the market, where the Gulf funds turned bullish.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the market, where the realty, banking and industrials sectors together accounted for about 79% of the total trading volume.

The Total Return Index shrank 0.78% to 17,660 points, All the Share Index by 0.72% to 2,850.38 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.56% to 2,065.99 points.

The banks and financial services index eased 0.97%, industrials (0.88%), consumer goods and services (0.51%) and transport (0.47%); whereas insurance gained 0.87%, real estate (0.68%) and telecom (0.02%).

Major losers included QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, QIIB, Industries Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Milaha and Gulf Warehousing; even as Dlala, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatari German Company for Medical Devices, Aamal Company, Al Khaleej Takaful, Mazaya Qatar, United Development Company, Vodafone Qatar and Nakilat were among the gainers.

Foreign institutions’ net selling increased considerably to QR12.3mn compared to QR6.99mn on June 9.

The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR0.69mn against net buyers of QR1.98mn the previous day.

Foreign individuals turned net sellers to the extent of QR0.57mn compared with net buyers of QR1.88mn on Tuesday.

Domestic institutions’ net buying declined significantly to QR5.53mn against QR14.07mn on June 9.

However, the Gulf funds were net buyers to the tune of QR12.3mn compared with sellers of QR1.47mn the previous day.

Local retail investors’ net profit booking fell noticeably to QR2.59mn against QR5.65mn on Tuesday.

Arab individuals’ net selling also weakened perceptibly to QR1.71mn compared to QR3.83mn on June 9.

Arab funds had no major exposure.

Total trade volumes fell 16% to 185.39mn shares, value by 6% to QR300.7mn and transactions by 2% to 7,539.

There was a 28% plunge in the industrials sector’s trade volume to 30.61mn equities, 20% in value to QR38.98mn and 8% in deals to 1,473.

The real estate sector’s trade volume plummeted 22% to 69.47mn stocks, value by 37% to QR61.12mn and transactions by 24% to 1,303.

The market witnessed a 21% shrinkage in the consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume to 16.64mn shares and 10% in value to QR24.42mn but on 2% growth in deals to 889.

The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume shrank 9% to 46.26mn equities, while value rose 11% to QR124.86mn and transactions by 14% to 2,797.

The insurance sector reported a 6% contraction in trade volume to 9.16mn stocks but on a 3% rise in value to QR17.69mn and 4% in deals to 430.

However, the transport sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 10.49mn shares and value almost tripled to QR27.62mn on 1% increase in transactions to 353.

The telecom sector saw a 35% surge in trade volume to 2.75mn equities, 5% in value to QR6mn and 10% in deals to 294.

In the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.


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