The Qatar Stock Exchange on Tuesday witnessed buying interests from local and foreign retail investors; even as it settled lower.

Notwithstanding the demand for telecom and transport sectors, the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.7% to 10,529.46 points, having recovered from an intraday low of less than 10,500 points.

The weakened buying interests of the Gulf funds and individuals also had its role in dampening the sentiments in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 1%.

About 72% of the traded constituents were in the red in the bourse, where foreign domestic institutions were seen bearish.

The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the market, whose capitalisation saw about QR5bn, or 0.74%, fall to QR609.28bn, mainly owing to small and microcap segments.

A total of 42,100 exchange traded funds (Masraf Al Rayan-sponsored QATR and Doha Bank-sponsored QETF) valued together at QR212,193 changed hands across eight deals; while in the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the bourse, where the banks, industrials and real estate sectors together accounted for about 78% of the total trading volume.

The Total Return Index shrank 0.7% to 20,242.54 points, the All Share Index by 0.67% to 3,231.49 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.73% to 2,407.82 points.

The insurance index tanked 1.82%, industrials (1.63%), realty (0.91%), banks and financial institutions (0.51%) and consumer goods and services (0.03%); while telecom and transport gained 0.65% and 0.42% respectively.

Major losers included Qatari Investors Group, Qatar Insurance, Qamco, Qatar Electricity and Water, Qatar National Cement, Doha Bank, Inma Holding, Mannai Corporation, Widam Food, Baladna, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatari Investors Group, Al Khaleej Takaful, Qatar Islamic Insurance and Ezdan; whereas Medicare Group, Al Meera, Doha Insurance, Ooredoo and Milaha were among the gainers.

Foreign funds turned net sellers to the tune of QR9.4mn compared with net buyers of QR7.85mn on December 7.

Domestic funds were net sellers to the extent of QR7.07mn against net buyers of QR10.71mn the previous day.

Gulf institutions’ net buying eased considerably to QR3.08mn compared to QR10.37mn on Monday.

Gulf individuals’ net buying declined markedly to QR1.35mn against QR3.14mn on December 7.

However, local individuals were net buyers to the tune of QR6.16mn compared with net sellers of QR12.84mn the previous day.

Foreign individuals were also net buyers to the extent of QR6.16mn against net sellers of QR4.26mn on Monday.

Arab institutions turned net buyers to the extent of QR0.03mn compared with no major exposure on December 7.

Arab individuals’ net profit booking declined notably to QR0.27mn against QR14.92mn the previous day.

Total trade volumes fell 24% to 223.13mn shares, value by 4% to QR539.97mn and transactions by 19% to 11,124.

There was a 54% plunge in the insurance sector’s trade volume to 1.72mn equities, 49% in value to QR4.06mn and 3% in deals to 153.

The telecom sector’s trade volume plummeted 47% to 4.51mn stocks, value by 45% to QR18.85mn and transactions by 30% to 619.

The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume tanked 36% to 35.91mn shares, while value was up less than 1% to QR86.18mn despite 30% lower deals at 1,543.

The industrials sector saw a 30% contraction in trade volume to 64.28mn equities and 19% in value to QR71.22mn but on a 4% jump in transactions to 2,392.

The real estate sector’s trade volume shrank 29% to 44.83mn stocks, value by 28% to QR78.95mn and deals by 30% to 1,971.

However, the transport sector reported a 5% jump in trade volume to 7.49mn shares and 15% in value to QR34.81mn but on 22% shrinkage in transactions to 709.

The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume grew 3% to 64.39mn equities and value by 21% to QR245.89mn; while transactions eased 16% to 3,737.


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