The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index declined 127.46 points, or 1.28%, during the week to close at 9,813.96. Market capitalisation decreased by 1.31% to QR528.1bn versus QR535.1bn at the end of the previous week. Of the 44 listed companies, 12 ended the week higher, while 30 fell and only two remained unchanged. Gulf International Services (GISS) was the best performing stock for the week with a gain of 5.8% on 8.0mn shares traded. On the other hand, Qatar Cinema & Film Distribution Co (QCFS) was the worst performing with a decline of 7.8% on 320 shares traded only.
Ezdan Holding Group (ERES), QNB Group (QNBK) and Masraf Al Rayan (MARK) were the primary contributors to the weekly index decline. ERES was the biggest contributor, shedding 35.7 points from the index. QNBK was the second biggest contributor to the decline, erasing 26.5 points from the index. Moreover, MARK deleted 17.8 points from the index. On the other hand, Qatar Insurance Co (QATI) contributed positively, adding 13.7 points to the index.
Trading value during the week decreased by 4.0% to reach QR1.34bn versus QR1.39bn in the prior week. The industrials sector led the trading value during the week, accounting for 36.6% of the total trading value. The banks and financial services sector was the second biggest contributor, accounting for 28.3% of the total trading value. GISS was the top value traded stock during the week with total traded value of QR300.6mn.
Trading volume increased by 8.5% to reach 43.0mn shares versus 39.6mn in the prior week. The number of transactions decreased by 8.7% to reach 22,522 versus 24,661 in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading volume, accounting for 32.0%, followed by the industrials sector, which accounted for 29.1% of the overall trading volume. GISS was also the top volume traded stock during the week with total traded volume of 8.0mn shares.
Foreign institutions remained bullish during the week with net buying of QR80.9mn versus net buying of QR84.3mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions remained bearish with net selling of QR85.8mn versus net selling of QR89.4mn the week before. Foreign retail investors remained bearish for the week with net selling of QR2.5mn versus net selling of QR2.6mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors remained bullish with net buying of QR7.4mn versus net buying of QR7.7mn the week before.
In 2016 year-to-date, foreign institutions bought (on a net basis) $415mn worth of Qatari equities.
QNB
