The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday declined 47 points and its barometer reached less than 9,800 levels, mainly on higher than average selling pressure from the banking segment.

Foreign funds were seen bearish and the Gulf individual’ net buying interests weakened as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.47% lower at 9,767.18 points.

However, domestic funds and local retail investors turned bearish on the market, whose year-to-date losses were at 6.7%.

Market capitalisation saw about QR2bn or 0.29% increase to QR568.39bn, mainly owing to midcap segments.

A total of 12,600 exchange traded funds (both QATR and QETF) valued at QR46,607 changed hands across two transactions; while in the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline on the market, where the real estate and banking sectors together accounted for about 61% of the total trading volume.

The Total Return Index declined 0.47% to 18,777.08 points, All Share Index by 0.43% to 3,038.51 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.56% to 2,230.74 points.

The banks and financial services sector index shrank 0.64%, telecom (0.41%), transport (0.39%) and industrials (0.29%); while insurance gained 0.3%, consumer goods and services (0.07%) and real estate (0.05%).

About 67% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Qamco, Qatari Investors Group, Gulf Warehousing, Commercial Bank, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Masraf Al Rayan, Alijarah Holding, Inma Holding, Medicare Group, Widam Food, Gulf International Services and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding.

Nevertheless, Mazaya Qatar, Doha Insurance, Al Meera, Dlala, Ahlibank Qatar, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing and Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance were among the gainers.

Foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR45.42mn compared with net buyers of QR38.4mn on August 19.

The Gulf institutions’ net buying declined perceptibly to QR1.64mn against QR1.84mn the previous day.

The Gulf individuals’ net buying increased markedly to QR0.04mn compared to QR0.76mn on Wednesday.

However, domestic funds were net buyers to the extent of QR32.94mn against net sellers of QR7.79mn on August 19.

Local retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR10.98mn compared with net sellers of QR22.82mn the previous day.

Foreign individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR0.67mn against net sellers of QR7.57mn on Wednesday.

The Arab funds’ net profit booking weakened perceptibly to QR0.03mn compared to QR1.96mn on August 19.

The Arab individuals’ net selling was flat at QR0.92mn.

Total trade volumes fell 10% to 272.99mn shares, value by 11% to QR481.62mn and transactions by 9% to 10,151.

The industrials sector’s trade volume plummeted 45% to 48.25mn equities, value by 42% to QR65.01mn and deals by 28% to 1,959.

The banks and financial services sector saw 40% plunge in trade volume to 60.91mn stocks, 34% in value to QR166.49mn and 22% in transactions to 2,877.

The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume tanked 33% to 45.78mn shares, value by 20% to QR74.1mn and deals by 27% to 1,438.

The telecom sector reported 24% plunge in trade volume to 4.3mn equities, 23% in value to QR9.87mn and 36% in transactions to 373.

However, the real estate sector’s trade volume more than tripled to 105.13mn stocks and value almost tripled to QR144.81mn on more than doubled deals to 2,859.

There was 54% surge in the transport sector’s trade volume to 4mn shares and 42% in value to QR12.55mn but on 13% decline in transactions to 402.

The insurance sector’s trade volume was up 7% to 4.61mn equities; whereas value eroded 13% to QR8.79mn and deals by 32% to 243.


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