The foreign funds’ net profit booking pressure on Wednesday dragged the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) about 95 points but overall its key index stood above 10,200 levels.
The industrials and banking counters witnessed higher than average selling as the 20-stock Qatar Index shrank 0.92% to 10,213.34 points.
The market, which was heavily skewed towards shakers, had touched an intraday high of 10,387 points.
The Arab individuals were seen bearish in the main market, whose year-to-date losses increased to 4.38%.
More than 65% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation was seen eroding QR5.85bn or 0.98% to QR594.07bn, mainly on account of mid and microcap segments.
The Arab institutions turned net profit takers in the main market, which saw a total of 0.1mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.33mn changed hands across 14 deals.
However, the domestic funds were increasingly into net buying in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen declining slower than then other indices in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index shed 0.92%, the All Share Index by 0.88% and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.71% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.
The industrials sector index shrank 1.29%, banks and financial services (1.17%), consumer goods and services (0.55%), insurance (0.44%) and real estate (0.14%); while telecom and transport gained 0.95% and 0.69% respectively.
Major losers included Mannai Corporation, Mekdam Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, Lesha Bank, Dukhan Bank, Salam International Investment, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Industries Qatar, Qamco and Ezdan.
In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, QLM, Masraf Al Rayan, Estithmar Holding, Vodafone Qatar, Inma Holding, Qatar National Cement and Nakilat were among the gainers in the main market.
The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR32.08mn against net buyers of QR10.65mn on March 28.
The Arab individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR11.09mn compared with net buyers of QR2.19mn the previous day.
The Arab institutions turned net profit takers to the tune of QR3.08mn against no major net exposure on Tuesday.
However, the domestic funds were net buyers to the extent of QR30.87mn compared with net sellers of QR7.58nmn on March 28.
The Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR9.3mn against net sellers of QR1.31mn the previous day.
The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR6.06mn compared with net sellers of QR4.55mn on Tuesday.
The Gulf individual investors’ net buying increased marginally to QR0.21mn against QR0.17mn on March 28.
The local retail investors’ net profit booking declined considerably to QR0.22mn compared to QR14.74mn the previous day.
In the main market, trade volumes grew 12% to 228.35mn shares, value by 21% to QR642.08mn and deals by 14% to 21,225.
