The Qatar Stock Exchange Monday saw about 72% of the traded constituents extend gains; yet it could not overall sustain the levels above 12,500 points.
The foreign institutions were seen increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled mere 0.03% higher at 12,498.2 points, although it remained above the 12,500 levels for most part of the second half.
The insurance, consumer goods, industrials and telecom counters witnessed higher than the average demand in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 7.5%.
The Gulf institutions and foreign individuals were also increasingly into net buying in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR65mn or 0.09% increase to QR718.09bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments.
The local retail investors’ weakened net selling also had its influence in the market, where the industrials and banking sectors together accounted for more than 53% of the trading volume.
The Arab individuals continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the bourse, which saw a total of 48,112 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR519,628 changed hands across 12 deals.
The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the main barometer in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
Total trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index was up 0.03% to 24,740.94 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.15% to 2,741.24 points; while the All Share Index was down 0.02% to 3,950.11 points.
The insurance sector index shot up 1.32%, consumer goods and services (0.77%), industrials (0.6%), telecom (0.55%) and transport (0.01%); while real estate declined 1% and banks and financial services 0.41%.
Major movers in the main market included Al Khaleej Takaful, Inma Holding, Dlala, Mannai Corporation, Qatari Investors Group, Alijarah Holding, Qatar Oman Investment, Aamal Company, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qamco, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, QLM, Mazaya Qatar and Ezdan.
In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their shares appreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Doha Bank, Barwa, Qatar National Cement, Qatari German Medical Devices, QNB, Al Meera, United Development Company and Milaha were among the losers in the main market.
The foreign institutions’ net buying increased markedly to QR92.47mn compared to QR66.27mn on January 30.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying strengthened substantially to QR10.14mn against QR0.33mn the previous day.
The foreign individuals’ net buying rose perceptibly to QR2.97mn compared to QR1.77mn on Sunday.
The Gulf individuals’ net buying expanded marginally to QR2mn against QR1.81mn on January 30.
Qatari individuals’ net selling declined noticeably to QR37.47mn compared to QR45.72mn the previous day.
The Arab individuals’ net profit booking fell marginally to QR3.15mn against QR3.37mn on Sunday.
However, the domestic institutions’ net selling shot up markedly to QR66.96mn compared to QR20.64mn on January 30.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net profit takers of QR0.44mn the previous day.
Total trade volume in the main market rose 64% to 202.11mn shares, value by 21% to QR589.51mn and transactions by 83% to 13,989.
The telecom sector’s volume almost quadrupled to 6.39mn equities and value grew almost five-fold to QR25.23mn on more than tripled deals to 796.
The real estate sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 27.67mn stocks and value also more than doubled to QR41.67mn on almost doubled transactions to 925.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 46.51mn shares, value soared 76% to QR114.2mn and deals by 85% to 2,354.
The industrials sector reported a 78% surge in trade volume to 54.29mn equities and 35% in value to QR150.27mn on more than doubled transactions to 3,307.
The insurance sector’s trade volume shot up 40% to 5.04mn stocks, value by 46% to QR15.1mn and deals by 86% to 351.
The banks and financial services sector saw a 21% expansion in trade volume to 52.9mn shares but on 13% contraction in value to QR188.85mn despite 49% higher transactions at 5,279.
However, the transport sector’s trade volume tanked 14% to 9.31mn equities and value by 14% to QR54.19mn; whereas deals zoomed 70% to 977.
In the venture market, volumes expanded 67.05% to 4.31mn stocks and value by 88.55% to QR36.56mn on almost tripled transactions to 815.
