Islamic equities rose faster than the conventional ones in the Qatar Stock Exchange, which Tuesday gained about 27 points to inch near the 10,850 levels.
About 63% of the traded constituents extended gains as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.24% higher at 10,843.1 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,786 points.
Local retail investors were seen bullish in the market, whose year-to-date gains improved further to 3.9%.
The consumer goods, industrials and real estate counters witnessed higher than average demand in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw more than QR1bn or 0.23% increase to QR626.1bn, mainly owing to microcap segments.
Foreign institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the market, which saw the industrials and consumer goods and services sectors together constitute about 76% of the total trading volume.
The overall trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the bourse, where domestic funds were seen increasingly into net profit booking.
The Arab individuals were bearish in the market, which saw a total of 5,290 exchange traded funds (Masraf Al Rayan sponsored QATR) valued at QR13,066 change hands across two deals; while in the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.
The Total Return Index rose 0.25% to 21,464.57 points, All Share Index by 0.18% to 3,437.24 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.61% to 2,492.92 points.
The consumer goods and services sector index gained 0.64%, industrials (0.6%), realty (0.52%) and banks and financial services (0.12%); whereas insurance declined 1.5%, telecom (0.29%) and transport (0.22%).
Major gainers included Investment Holding Group, Qatari German Medical Devices, Qamco, Salam International Investment, Qatar Oman Investment, Alijarah Holding, Dlala, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Qatari Investors Group, Qatar Electricity and Water and Mazaya Qatar.
Nevertheless, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Ahlibank Qatar, QLM, Qatar Insurance, Doha Bank, Baladna, Ezdan and Gulf Warehousing were among the shakers.
Qatari individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.74mn compared with net sellers of QR45.3mn on August 2.
However, domestic funds’ net selling increased substantially to QR33.22mn against QR4.74mn the previous day.
The Arab individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR11.62mn compared with net buyers of QR0.46mn on Monday.
Foreign individuals’ net profit booking strengthened markedly to QR3.9mn against QR1.93mn on August 2.
The Gulf individuals net selling grew marginally to QR0.94mn compared to QR0.73mn the previous day.
Foreign institutions’ net buying decreased notably to QR44.43mn against QR45.19mn on Monday.
The Gulf funds’ net buying also eased perceptibly to QR4.51mn compared to QR7.05mn on August 2.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the third straight session.
Total trade volume rose 16% to 223.05mn shares, value by 10% to QR421.05mn and transactions by 5% to 10,777.
There was 58% surge in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 21.75mn equities, 41% in value to QR29.17mn and 18% in deals to 823.
The industrials sector’s trade volume soared 26% to 100.16mn stocks and value by 18% to QR162.64mn, while transactions were down 10% to 3,457.
The banks and financial services sector saw 7% jump in trade volume to 24.81mn shares but on 83% shrinkage in value to QR17.16mn despite 14% higher deals 2,992.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume was up 2% to 68.32mn equities, while value was down 2% to QR90.54mn despite 7% higher transactions at 1,946.
However, the market witnessed 22% plunge in insurance’s trade volume to 0.7mn stocks, 38% in value to QR2.04mn and 33% in deals to 87.
The telecom sector’s trade volume tanked 18% to 3.58mn shares, whereas value expanded 59% to QR16.02mn and transactions by 72% to 918.
The transport sector reported 6% shrinkage in trade volume to 3.72mn equities, 6% in value to QR13.48mn and 6% in deals to 554.
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