The domestic funds were seen net buyers on Tuesday on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which otherwise lost more than 94 points to close below 10,800 levels.
The 20-stock Qatar Index touched an intraday high of 10,906 points before winding up at 10,769.02 points, 0.87% lower from Sunday’s levels; even as local retail investors’ net selling pressure were seen weakening.
Both foreign individuals and Arab funds were seen increasingly into net buying in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 3.19%.
The industrials and insurance counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw more than QR2bn or 0.32% decline to QR624.53bn, mainly dragged by microcap segments.
Trade turnover fell amidst higher volumes in the market, where Islamic equities were seen declining faster than the other indices.
Foreign funds’ net buying considerably weakened in the market, where the realty, consumer goods and banking sectors together accounted for more than 76% of the total trading volume.
A total of 86,373 exchange traded funds (Masraf Al Rayan-sponsored QATR and Doha Bank-sponsored QETF) valued at QR560,588 changed hands across 12 deals; while in the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.
The Total Return Index declined 0.87% to 20,703.09 points, the All Share Index by 0.73% to 3,302.75 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.82% to 2,437.78 points.
The industrials index tanked 2.22%, insurance (1.12%), telecom (0.56%), banks and financial services (0.55%) and transport (0.03%); while real estate gained 1.14% and consumer goods and services (0.04%).
More than 52% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being QLM, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Industries Qatar, QIIB, Qatar Insurance, Masraf Al Rayan, Qatar National Cement, Barwa and Milaha; even as Qatari German Medical Devices, Ezdan, United Development Company, Inma Holding, Salam International Investment, Aamal Company and Nakilat were among the gainers.
The foreign funds’ net buying weakened substantially to QR30.27mn compared to QR144.85mn on January 18.
The Gulf funds’ net selling increased notably to QR1.57mn against QR0.12mn the previous day.
The Gulf individuals’ net selling grew markedly to QR0.56mn compared to QR0.17mn on Monday.
However, the domestic funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.46mn against net sellers of QR48.86mn on January 18.
The Arab individuals’ net buying rose perceptibly to QR2.41mn compared to QR2.39mn the previous day.
The foreign individuals’ net buying grew notably to QR1.57mn against QR1.05mn on Monday.
The Arab institutions’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR0.15mn compared to QR0.02mn on January 18.
Qatari retail investors’ net selling fell significantly to QR34.64mn against QR99.18mn the previous day.
Total trade volume rose 36% to 226.11mn shares, while value fell 4% to QR559.6mn despite 51% higher transactions at 13,745.
The realty sector’s trade volume more than tripled to 66.66mn equities and value also more than tripled to QR120.77mn on almost-tripled-deals to 2,891.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume soared 78% to 56.2mn stocks, value by 23% to QR103.62mn and transactions by 59% to 1,905.
There was a 22% surge in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 6.44n shares but on a 6% fall in value to QR29.9mn despite 56% higher deals at 1,154.
The transport sector’s trade volume expanded 7% to 7.3mn equities, whereas value was down 7% to QR30.78mn despite 24% higher transactions at 640.
However, the banks and financial services sector saw a 20% shrinkage in trade volume to 49.38mn stocks and 33% in value to QR210.47mn but on a 36% growth in deals to 5,046.
The industrials sector’s trade volume declined 3% to 33.56mn shares and value by 26% to QR46.28mn despite 9% higher transactions at 1,562.
The insurance sector reported a 2% dip in trade volume to 6.56mn equities and 21% in value to QR17.76mn but on a 22% jump in deals to 547.
