The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) Index decreased by 154.37 points, or 1.70% during the trading week to close at 8,951.82. Market capitalisation decreased by 2.28% to QR482.30bn versus QR493.53bn at the end of the previous trading week. Of the 45 listed companies, 6 companies ended the week higher, while 37 declined and 2 remained unchanged. Qatar General Insurance & Reinsurance Co (QGRI) was the best performing stock for the week with a gain of 10.39% on only 9,450 shares traded. On the other hand, Investment Holding Group (IGRD) was the worst performing stock for the week with a decline of 9.37% on 4.6mn shares traded.
QNB Group (QNBK), Masraf Al Rayan (MARK) and Aamal (AHCS) were the primary contributors to the weekly index decrease. QNBK was the biggest contributor to the index’s weekly decline, deleting 52.83 points from the index. MARK was the second biggest contributor to the decrease, shaving off 17.48 points from the index. Moreover, AHCS erased 8.82 points from the index. Alternatively, Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQK) contributed positively to the index, adding 2.74 points to the index.
Trading value during the week decreased by 10.32% to reach QR723.7mn versus QR807.0mn in the prior week. The Banks and Financial Services sector led the trading value during the week, accounting for 33.37% of the total trading value. The Industrials sector was the second biggest contributor to the overall trading value, accounting for 21.91% of the total trading value. Vodafone Qatar (VFQS) was the top value traded stock during the week with total traded value of QR119.09mn.
Trading volume increased by 9.29% to reach 34.12mn shares versus 37.62mn shares in the prior week. The number of transactions decreased by 26.35% to reach 9,283 transactions versus 12,605 transactions in the prior week. The Telecoms sector led the trading volume, accounting for 40.60%, followed by the Industrials sector which accounted for 22.85% of the overall trading volume. VFQS was the top volume traded stock during the week with total traded volume of 13.6mn shares.
Foreign institutions remained bearish with net selling of QR32.0mn vs net selling of QR71.5mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions remained bullish with net buying of QR38.3mn vs net buying of QR16.2mn the week before. Foreign retail investors turned bearish with net selling of QR4.3mn vs  net buying of QR3.1mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors turned bearish with net selling of QR2.0mn vs net buying of QR52.2mn the week before. In 2017 YTD, foreign institutions bought (on a net basis) ~$722mn worth of equities.