The Qatar Stock Exchange Wednesday lost about 37 points, mainly dragged by the telecom and industrials sectors.
The domestic funds’ increased net profit booking led the 20-stock Qatar Index 0.36% to 10,359.22 points.
The market, which was skewed towards decliners, had however touched an intraday high of 10,416 points.
The Arab funds were increasingly net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 3.09%.
A half of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation eroded QR1.1bn or 0.18% to QR601.9bn, mainly on account of microcap segments.
The foreign funds were net sellers, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, which saw a total of 0.3mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR1.02mn changed hands across 33 deals.
However, the local retail investors were increasingly into net buying in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index shed 0.36%, the All Share Index by 0.14% and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.17% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.
The telecom sector index tanked 1.26%, industrials (0.52%), banks and financial services (0.31%) and consumer goods and services (0.06%); while insurance gained 1.55%, transport (1.54%) and real estate (1.03%).
Major losers in the main market included Commercial Bank, Qatar National Cement, Woqod, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Vodafone Qatar, Ooredoo and Qatar Electricity and Water.
In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Al Khaleej Takaful, Dlala, QLM, Zad Holding, Salam International Investment, Baladna, Estithmar Holding, United Development Company, Milaha and Nakilat were among the gainers in the main market.
The domestic institutions’ net profit booking increased noticeably to QR27.04mn compared to QR2.54mn on April 4.
The Arab institutions’ net selling expanded perceptibly to QR2.05mn against QR1.01mn the previous day.
The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.06mn compared with net buyers of QR17.11mn on Tuesday.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying decreased substantially to QR13.71mn against QR23.11mn on April 4.
However, the local retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR11.49mn compared with net sellers of QR13.67mn the previous day.
The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.58mn against net sellers of QR10.53mn on Tuesday.
The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR1.52mn compared with net sellers of QR2.77mn on April 4.
The Gulf individual investors’ net profit booking shrank markedly to QR0.12mn against QR7.69mn the previous day.
In the main market, trade volumes fell 16% to 137.03mn shares, value by 26% to QR336.63mn and deals by 15% to 12,754.
