A higher than average demand, particularly in the banking counter, led the 20-Qatar Index to gain as much as 188 points or 1.93% to 9,927.72 points.
The foreign institutions were seen net buyers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated to 7.05%.
More than 79% of the traded constituents extended gains in the main bourse, whose capitalisation shot up QR10.21bn or 1.8% to QR573.32bn with large and midcap segments gaining the most.
The foreign retail investors were increasingly bullish in the main market, which touched an intraday high of 9,984 points.
The local retail investors turned net buyers in the main bourse, which saw as many as 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.07mn trade across four deals.
The Gulf individuals were increasingly net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices in the main bourse, which witnessed no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index soared 1.91%, the All Islamic Index by 1.64% and the All Share Index by 1.86% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.
The banks and financial sector index surged 2.73%, industrials (1.5%), realty (1.49%), insurance (1.34%) and transport (0.6%); while telecom declined 0.39% and consumer goods and services 0.16%.
Major losers in the main market included Ahlibank Qatar, Commercial Bank, Dukhan Bank, United Development Company, Qatar Islamic Bank, QNB, QIIB, Masraf Al Rayan, Baladna, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, QLM, Qatar Insurance and Milaha.
In the venture market, Mahhar Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Nakilat, Qatari German Medical Devices, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Lesha Bank, Zad Holding and Ooredoo were among the shakers in the main market.
The foreign funds were net buyers to the tune of QR80.36mn compared with net sellers of QR0.46mn on December 13.
The foreign individual investors’ net buying increased noticeably to QR9.17mn against QR3.76mn the previous day.
The local individual investors turned net buyers to the extent of QR6.59mn compared with net sellers of QR0.7mn on Wednesday.
The Gulf individuals’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR0.41mn against QR0.25mn on December 13.
However, the domestic funds were net sellers to the tune of QR50.18mn compared with net buyers of QR21.56mn the previous day.
The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking expanded significantly to QR41.77mn against QR28.94mn on Wednesday.
The Arab individual investors turned net sellers to the extent of QR4.6mn compared with net buyers of QR4.52mn on December 13.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the seventh straight session.
Trade volumes in the main market more than doubled to 311.38mn shares and value more than doubled to QR1.18bn on 53% increase in deals to 23,771.
The venture market saw 5% shrinkage in trade volumes to 0.42mn equities but on 8% jump value to QR0.42mn amidst 21% lower transactions at 55.