Long-term investments in the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) are rewarding, according to Shahnawaz Rashid, Commercial Bank executive general manager and head of retail banking.
“If you look at the last 15 years of Qatar Stock Exchange growth in terms of capital appreciation, on an average, the QSE has given 15% to 17% returns, if you stay invested for 15 years. On the other hand, S&P and some of the other global indices are 8% to 9%, which means QSE has substantially outperformed others,” Rashid told Gulf Times on the sidelines of a Commercial Bank seminar in Doha recently.
Rashid said: “The other good thing about the Qatar Stock Exchange is that the dividend yield in the QSE is ‘very steady’. All these blue chip companies on the QSE give 4% to 6% every year. They also encourage their investors to stay for a longer period of time.”
Talking about Commercial Bank Financial Services, which provides customers with a secure platform for trading on QSE-listed stocks, bonds & T–bills, Rashid noted: “We are among the top brokerage houses in Qatar. We have almost QR800mn of capital base. So that is the kind of investment our Board has put into CB Financial Services.
“And if you look at our volumes in the last five years, it has grown between eight and 10 times in terms of the local market. Today, 50% of our volumes are coming through our award-winning, feature-packed mobile application.”
He said: “Commercial Bank's strategy is to give our customers a world-class and customised experience. One of the reasons why we have these lounges in Commercial Bank is that we want customers to come and have a discussion with us. And after proper risk profiling of the customers, we offer them the products that are suitable for them, depending on their age, the size of the family and income.”
He said: “Commercial Bank Financial Services is our brokerage arm, where we do trading, margin financing and asset management. And in Sadara lounges, we do wealth management products like international shares trading, mutual funds, structured notes, bonds etc. We give customers a variety of products and services.”
Speaking about Commercial Bank’s recent seminar on ‘Investment Opportunities in Qatar’s Stock Market: New Products and Insights on the Local Economy’, Rashid said: “This event is in partnership with the Qatar Stock Exchange. And we wanted to educate and talk really about various products that are there in the market.
“Commercial Bank continues to put its customers at the heart of everything we do. This forum not only aimed at providing insightful information to our customers, but also to provided a unique space for them to engage directly with market experts and our top executives.”
“Our CB Premium Lounges serve as a vital gateway for our premium customers to explore and capitalize on the best local investment opportunities, which cements our targeted focus to provide world-class banking services like no other, keeping our customers aware and well-informed about the best investment opportunities,” Rashid added.
The Commercial Bank seminar held at its D-Ring Road branch was hosted by Reham Sabri, assistant general manager and senior director (Premium Banking) at Commercial Bank.
The event featured two distinguished speakers from the Qatar Stock Exchange: Samer Abo-Zaghla, education manager, and Abdulrahman al-Sayed, director (Strategy and Investment).
Shahnawaz Rashid, Commercial Bank executive general manager and head of retail banking.
