QSE crosses 10,900 levels as transport, banking and real estate sectors witness demand

The Qatar Stock Exchange Sunday opened the week on a stronger note as its key index gained 95 points to cross the 10,900 levels, mainly lifted by the strength in the global energy markets due to Chinese growth prospects.
Transport, banking and real estate sectors witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index shot up 0.87% to 10,905.09 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,844 points.
More than 55% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved to 2.1%.
The Arab retail investors turned bullish and the foreign individual investors were seen increasingly into net buying in the main bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR6.53bn or 1.06% increase to QR620.8bn, mainly led by mid and microcap segments.
The local retail investors’ weakened net selling pressure had its influence in the main market, which saw a total of 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.1mn changed hands across nine deals.
However, the Gulf individuals were increasingly net profit takers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index rose 0.87%, All Share Index by 0.91% and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 1.06% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover volumes were on the decline.
The transport sector index shot up 1.92%, banks and financial services (1.29%), realty (1.19%) and industrials (0.76%); while insurance shrank 1.8%, consumer goods and services (0.61%) and telecom (0.48%).
Major gainers in the main market included Beema, QIIB, Qamco, Ezdan, QNB, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Estithmar Holding, United Development Company, Vodafone Qatar, Nakilat and Milaha. In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Doha Insurance, Zad Holding, Al Meera, Qatar Insurance, Commercial Bank, Qatar National Cement and Ooredoo were among the losers in the main market.
The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR8.92mn compared with net sellers of QR2.65mn on January 19.
The foreign retail investors’ net buying increased perceptibly to QR2.88mn against QR0.96mn the previous trading day.
The Qatari individuals’ net profit booking weakened noticeably to QR18.27mn compared to QR39.36mn last Thursday.
However, the Gulf institutions’ net selling expanded markedly to QR14.28mn against QR10.33mn on January 19.
The domestic institutions’ net selling shot up notably to QR13.22mn compared to QR11.37mn the previous trading day.
The foreign institutions’ net buying weakened significantly to QR33.61mn against QR61.87mn last Thursday.
The Gulf individuals’ net buying eased marginally to QR0.36mn compared to QR0.89mn on January 19.
The Arab funds had no major net exposure for the third consecutive day.
The main market saw 19% shrinkage in trade volumes to 143.21mn shares, 27% in value to QR476.5mn and 37% in deals to 15,530.