The Qatar Stock Exchange on Monday witnessed profit booking and its key index lost 19 points, mainly on the bearish outlook of the Arab and foreign individuals; but overall it stood above 10,600 levels.
The consumer goods, real estate, insurance and industrials counters saw higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.18% lower at 10,603.54 points, although it regained from an intraday low of 10,527 points.
Foreign institutions’ substantially weakened net buying also had its role in dampening the sentiments in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 1.71%.
About 70% of the traded constituents were in the red on the bourse, local retail investors continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity.
The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the market, whose capitalisation saw QR91mn or 0.15% fall to QR613.82bn, mainly owing to microcap segments.
A total of 78,544 exchange traded funds (Masraf Al Rayan sponsored QATR and Doha Bank sponsored QETF) valued together at QR190,208 changed hands across 12 deals; 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 bourse, where the industrials, real estate and banking sectors together accounted for about 74% of the total trading volume.
The Total Return Index fell 0.18% to 20,384.96 points, All Share Index by 0.18% to 3,253.12 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.46% to 2,425.61 points.
The consumer goods and services index shrank 1.1%, realty (0.61%), insurance (0.45%), industrials (0.24%) and banks and financial services (0.1%); while that of the telecom gained 1.08% and transport 0.4%.
Major losers included Salam International Investment, Investment Holding Group, Mazaya Qatar, QIIB, Commercial Bank, Medicare Group, Widam Food, Baladna, Al Meera, Qatari Investors Group, Aamal Company and Gulf International Services; whereas Inma Holding, Milaha, Ooredoo, Qatar Oman Investment and Doha Bank were among the gainers.
The Arab individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR14.92mn compared with net buyers of QR3.7mn on December 6.
The foreign individuals turned net sellers to the extent of QR4.26mn against net buyers of QR1.85mn the previous day.
Foreign funds’ net buying decreased substantially to QR7.85mn compared to QR74.92mn on Sunday.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying also eased considerably to QR10.37mn against QR38.52mn on December 6.
However, domestic funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR10.71mn compared with net sellers of QR9.91mn the previous day.
Qatari individuals’ net selling weakened significantly to QR12.84mn against QR104mn on Sunday.
The Gulf individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR3.14mn compared with net sellers of QR4.35mn on December 6.
The Arab institutions had no major exposure against net profit takers to the extent of QR0.75mn the previous day.
Total trade volumes fell 48% to 293.92mn shares, value by 39% to QR560.8mn and transactions by 16% to 13,715.
The real estate sector reported 55% plunge in trade volume to 63.55mn equities, 55% in value to QR109.97mn and 28% in deals to 2,822.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume plummeted 54% to 56.17mn stocks, value by 43% to QR85.94mn and transactions by 19% to 2,200.
There was 48% shrinkage in the insurance sector’s trade volume to 3.76mn shares, 53% in value to QR7.92mn and 61% in deals to 157.
The transport sector’s trade volume tanked 47% to 7.15mn equities, value by 50% to QR30.32mn and transactions by 16% to 913.
The industrials sector saw 45% contraction in trade volume to 92.16mn stocks, 48% in value to QR88.18mn and 34% in deals to 2,310.
The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume shrank 38% to 62.58mn shares and value by 17% to QR203.91mn; while transactions were up 7% to 4,433.
The market witnessed 15% dip in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 8.55mn equities and 6% in value to QR34.56mn but on 31% jump in deals to 880.
