The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday remained almost flat, after a six-day bearish spell, despite buying interests at the real estate and banking counters.
The foreign individuals were increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled at 11,790.98 points, although it touched an intraday high of 11,823 points.
The local retail investors continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 12.98%.
The Gulf individuals turned net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the bourse, which saw more than 54% of the traded constituents in the red.
The domestic institutions turned net profit takers in the market, whose capitalisation saw QR22mn or 0.03% dip to QR679.91bn, mainly on microcap segments.
The industrials and banking sectors together constituted more than 62% of the total trading volume yesterday.
The overall trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes in the main market, which saw as many as 112,500 sovereign bonds worth QR1.13mn across two transactions.
The Arab individuals were seen net profit takers in the market, which saw a total of 56,128 exchange traded funds (Masraf Al Rayan-sponsored QATR and Doha Bank-sponsored QETF) valued at QR591,425 trade across two deals.
The Total Return Index was up 0.01% to 23,340.95 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.03% to 2,619.68 points; while the All Share Index was flat at 3,734.84 points.
The real estate sector index gained 0.46%, banks and financial services (0.12%) and insurance (0.03%); while consumer goods and services fell 0.48%, telecom (0.41%), industrials (0.16%) and transport (0.02%).
Major movers in the main market included Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Masraf Al Rayan, Barwa, Milaha, Qatar Islamic Insurance and Qatar National Cement. In the venture market, Mekdam Holding shares gained.
Nevertheless, Investment Holding Group, Aamal Company, Doha Bank, Gulf International Services, Qatar Oman Investment, Medicare Group, Woqod, Widam Food, Qamco, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Ooredoo and Nakilat were among the losers in the main market.
In the junior bourse, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
The foreign funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR8.8mn compared with net sellers of QR18.83mn on November 24.
The foreign individuals’ net buying increased markedly to QR1.86mn against QR0.08mn the previous day.
The Gulf individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR0.14mn compared with net sellers of QR0.54mn on Wednesday.
The local retail investors’ net selling declined noticeably to QR5.78mn against QR10.87mn on November 24.
However, the domestic funds turned net sellers to the tune of QR4.64mn compared with net buyers of QR17.33mn the previous day.
The Arab individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR1.4mn against net buyers of QR7.29mn on Wednesday.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR1.03mn compared to QR5.52mn on November 24.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers of QR0.03mn the previous day.
Total trade volume in the main market fell 20% to 77.06mn shares, while value rose 2% to QR300.04mn despite 3% lower transactions at 7,308.
The transport sector’s trade volume plummeted 54% to 2.12mn equities and value by 26% to QR14.02mn, whereas deals were up 8% to 419.
The market witnessed a 42% plunge in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 1.41mn stocks, 23% in value to QR8.54mn and 61% in transactions to 286.
The industrials sector’s trade volume tanked 31% to 25.92mn shares, value by 37% to QR51.71mn and deals by 20% to 1,555.
The banks and financial services sector saw a 22% shrinkage in trade volume to 22.24mn equities but on a 29% jump in value to QR184.42mn and 19% in transactions to 3,932.
The insurance sector’s trade volume shrank 12% to 0.5mn stocks, value by 28% to QR1.63mn and deals by 28% to 67.
There was a 9% contraction in the consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume to 12.52mn shares and 1% in value to QR22.82mn but on 3% expansion in transactions to 678.
However, the real estate sector’s trade volume shot up 44% to 12.35mn equities and value by 33% to QR16.9mn; whereas deals were down 9% to 371.
In the venture market, value and transactions were seen dropping 36.06% and 26.98% respectively amidst flat volumes.
 
 
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