The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index decreased by 48.71 points or 0.58%, during the trading week to close at 8,360.77. Market capitalisation decreased by 0.53% to QR456.42bn versus QR QR458.86bn at the end of the previous trading week. Of the 45 listed companies, 19 ended the week higher, while 23 declined and three remained unchanged. Investment Holding Group (IGRD) was the best performing stock for the week with a gain of 10.8% on 13.8mn shares traded. On the other hand, Qatar Insurance Co (QATI) was the worst performing stock for the week with a decline of 7.1% on 177,087 shares traded.
Qatar Insurance Co (QATI), Qatar Islamic Bank (QIBK) and Qatar Electricity & Water Co (QEWS) were the primary contributors to the weekly index decrease. QATI was the biggest contributor to the index’s weekly decline, erasing 40.3 points from the index. QIBK was the second biggest contributor to the decrease, shaving off 9.7 points from the index. Moreover, QEWS deleted 7.0 points from the index. Alternatively, Barwa Real Estate Co (BRES) contributed positively to the index, adding 11.7 points to the index.
Trading value during the week decreased by 15.6% to reach QR1.06bn versus QR1.25bn in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading value during the week, accounting for 39.7% of the total trading value. The industrials sector was the second biggest contributor to the overall trading value, accounting for 27.7% of the total trading value. QNB Group (QNBK) was the top value traded stock during the week with total traded value of QR165.9mn.
Trading volume increased by 0.26% to reach 58.5mn shares versus 58.3mn shares in the prior week. The number of transactions declined by 21.1% to reach 12,122 versus 15,360 transactions in the prior week. The industrials sector led the trading volume, accounting for 30.6%, followed by the banks and financial services sector which accounted for 29.7% of the overall trading volume. IGRD was the top volume traded stock during the week with 13.8mn shares.
Foreign institutions remained bearish with net selling of QR84.0mn versus net selling of QR112.7mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions remained bullish with net buying of QR56.4mn versus net buying of QR32.6mn the week before. Foreign retail investors remained bullish with net buying of QR8.0mn versus net buying of QR1.9mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors remained bullish with net buying of QR19.6mn versus net buying of QR78.2mn the week before. 
In 2017 year-to-date, foreign institutions bought (on a net basis) $639mn worth of equities.

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