The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday inched near 9,500 levels, mainly on strong buying support from foreign institutions.

The consumer goods, banking and industrials counters witnessed higher than average demand, which led the 20-stock Qatar Index to gain 1.08% to 9,459.61 points.
Kamco analysts had forecast that "a jump over 9,250 points will open the space for additional strength to take place to 9,600 points and 10,000 points."
The robust earnings outlook and the rebound in the global energy prices that currently trade above $70 a barrel are positive signals to the market, which is already up 11% year-to-date.
Islamic stocks were seen outperforming the market, whose capitalisation gained 0.78% to QR514.42bn.
Gulf funds’ marginally bullish outlook also helped the bourse, which also saw stronger demand especially for large cap stocks.
Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the market, where the banking, real estate and industrials sectors together accounted for more than 82% of the total volume.
The Total Return Index gained 1.08% to 15,863.21 points, the All Share Index by 0.4% to 2,654.72 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index by 1.13% to 3,744.94 points.
The consumer goods soared 1.94%, followed by banks and financial services (1.28%), industrials (1.16%) and insurance (0.18%); while realty declined 2.74%, telecom (0.39%) and transport (0.38%).
Major gainers included QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Masraf Al Rayan, Qatar First Bank, Medicare Group, Widam Food, Industries Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qatar National Cement, Gulf International Services, Barwa and United Development Company, while Ezdan, QIIB, Al Khaliji, Aamal Company, Nakilat and Qatari Investors Group were among the losers.
Non-Qatari institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR35.92mn compared with net sellers of QR3.77mn the previous day.
Gulf institutions were also net buyers to the extent of QR1.94mn against net sellers of QR12.16mn on January 24.
However, local individuals’ net selling strengthened perceptibly to QR41.59mn compared to QR38.21mn on Wednesday.
Non-Qatari retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR8.53mn against net buyers of QR3.82mn the previous day.
Gulf retail investors’ net profit-booking grew marginally to QR0.78mn compared to QR0.34mn on January 24.
Domestic institutions’ net buying weakened considerably to QR13.03mn QR50.63mn compared to QR27.16mn on January 23.
Total trade volume fell 36% to 9.75mn shares, value by 19% to QR341.15mn and deals by 13% to 5,076.
The market witnessed a 69% plunge in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 0.49mn equities, 51% in value to QR11.25mn and 40% in transactions to 266.
The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume plummeted 58% to 3.2mn stocks, value by 30% to QR138.28mn and deals by 20% to 1,848.
The consumer goods sector reported a 47% shrinkage in trade volume to 0.61 shares, 34% in value to QR50.76mn and 20% in transactions to 673.
The transport sector’s trade volume tanked 37% to 0.43mn equities, value by 36% to QR13.42mn and deals by 27% to 253.
There was a 4% decline in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 2.45mn stocks but on an 18% increase in value to QR53.57mn despite 9% lower transactions to 801.
However, the industrials sector’s trade volume soared 76% to 2.37mn shares, value by 36% to QR10.83mn and deals by 6% to 164.
The insurance sector saw a 40% surge in trade volume to 0.21mn equities, 36% in value to QR10.83mn and 6% in transactions to 164.
In the debt market, there was no trading of treasury bills and sovereign bonds.

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