The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday saw more than 61% of the traded constituents extend gains to investors but overall it was seen in the negative turf.
The insurance, banking and consumer goods counters witnessed higher-than-net selling pressure, leading the 20-stock Qatar Index to fall 0.08% to 10,988.84 points, although it touched an intraday high of 11,059 points.
The foreign and Gulf institutions were seen net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 5.48%.
The Arab individual investors’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main bourse, whose capitalisation nevertheless saw QR1.21bn or 0.19% increase to QR622.96bn, mainly on microcap segments.
The Gulf retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, which saw a total of 0.06mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.16mn changed hands across 10 deals.
The Islamic index was seen gaining vis-à-vis declines in the other indices in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.
Trade turnover and volumes were in the rise in the main market, while in the venture market, both trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.
The Total Return Index was down 0.08% and the All Share Index by 0.03%, while the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) was up 0.02%.
The insurance sector index shrank 0.35%, banks and financial services (0.25%) and consumer goods and services (0.09%); while realty gained 0.57%, industrials (0.39%), telecom (0.32%) and transport (0.06%).
Major shakers in the main market included QLM, Qatar Islamic Bank, Woqod, Qatar Electricity and Water, Lesha Bank and QNB.
In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Al Khaleej Takaful, Dlala, Inma Holding, Medicare Group, Widam Food, Masraf Al Rayan, Qatari German Medical Devices, Mazaya Qatar and Gulf Warehousing were among the gainers in the main market.
In the junior bourse, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.
The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR20.29mn against net buyers of QR15.38mn on December 21.
The Gulf institutions were net sellers to the extent of QR0.78mn compared with net buyers of QR3.82mn the previous day.
The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking increased perceptibly to QR0.64mn against QR0.19mn on Wednesday.
The Arab individuals’ net buying weakened markedly to QR2.3mn compared to QR4.7mn on December 21.
However, the local retail investors’ net buying expanded substantially to QR24.99mn against QR7.99mn the previous day.
The foreign individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.04mn compared with net sellers of QR0.92mn on Wednesday.
The domestic institutions’ net selling shrank considerably to QR7.61mn against QR30.78mn on December 21.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the fourth straight session.
Total trade volume in the main market grew 22% to 94.61mn shares, value by 2% to QR310.01mn and deals by 2% to 11,241.
The venture market reported an 83% contraction in trade volumes to 0.01mn equities, 72% in value to QR0.07mn and 58% in transactions to 11.