Business
Sentiments weaken on QSE as index loses 17 points; realty, insurance counters record brisk selling
April 30, 2024 | 09:56 PM
Ahead of the US Federal Reserve meeting, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Tuesday fell about 17 points, mainly dragged by the real estate, insurance and transport sectors. The local retail investors were seen increasingly into net selling as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.17% to 9,727.01 points, although it touched an intraday high of 9,790 points.The Gulf individuals were seen net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 10.19%.Some 50% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR0.69bn or 0.12% to QR565.6bn on account of microcap segments.The Gulf institutions continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.12mn trade across 15 deals.The domestic funds were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Arab retail investors were also increasingly bullish in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.The Total Return Index fell 0.17%, the All Share Index by 0.2% and the All Islamic Index by 0.34% in the main market.The realty sector index tanked 2.34%, insurance (1.04%), transport (0.44%), and banks and financial services (0.44%); while telecom gained 0.92%, industrials (0.09%) and consumer goods and services (0.06%).Major losers in the main market included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, QLM, QIIB, Barwa, Mazaya Qatar, Dukhan bank, Baladna, Dlala, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Milaha and United Development Company.Nevertheless, Widam Food, Vodafone Qatar, Doha Insurance, Qatar German Medical Devices, Gulf International Services, Estithmar Holding and Nakilat were among the gainers in the main bourse.In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.The Qatari individual investors’ net selling increased significantly to QR29.42mn compared to QR14.22mn on April 29.The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR3.14mn against net buyers of QR0.31mn the previous day.The foreign institutions’ net buying declined noticeably to QR9.86mn compared to QR12.42mn on Monday.However, the domestic institutions’ net buying strengthened noticeably to QR23.01mn against QR14.53mn on April 29.The Arab retail investors’ net buying expanded considerably to QR8.87mn compared to QR2.1mn the previous day.The foreign individuals turned net buyers to the extent of QR1.6mn against net sellers of QR0.1mn on Monday.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking shrank markedly to QR10.79mn compared to QR15.05mn on April 29.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the sixth straight session.Trade volumes in the main market soared 23% to 191.45mn shares, value by 29% to QR536.54mn and deals by 30% to 18,621.The venture market saw a 68% plunge in trade volumes to 0.46mn equities, 69% in value to QR0.76mn and 59% in transactions to 61.
April 30, 2024 | 09:56 PM