An across the board selling, particularly in the banks and industrials counters, dragged the 20-stock Qatar Index 1.2% to 10,092.68 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,213 points.
The foreign institutions were seen net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 6.81%.
More than 89% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation eroded QR8.9bn or 1.51% to QR579.03bn with large and midcap segments leading the pack of losers.
The Gulf institutions’ lower net buying interests had its marginal influence in the main market, which saw as many as 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.04mn trade across eight deals.
However, the local retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices in the main market, which reported no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index shed 1.19%, the All Islamic Index by 0.78% and the All Share Index by 1.37% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.
The banks and financial services sector index tanked 1.71%, industrials (1.36%), real estate (1.12%), transport (0.83%), consumer goods and services (0.71%), insurance (0.55%) and telecom (0.54%).
Major losers in the main market included Qatar Islamic Insurance, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Qatari German Medical Devices, Lesha Bank, QNB, Doha Bank, Dlala, Meeza, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Estithmar Holding, Ezdan and Nakilat. In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Mekdam Holding, Al Meera and Qatari Investors Group were the three constituents that extended gains to investors in the main bourse.
The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR36.72mn compared with net buyers of QR20.58mn on March 24.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying decreased marginally to QR8.59mn against QR9.36mn the previous day.
However, the local retail investors’ net buying increased drastically to QR42mn compared to QR0.73mn on Sunday.
The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR6.24mn against net profit takers of QR2.15mn on March 24.
The foreign individuals’ net buying strengthened markedly to QR1.38mn compared to QR0.37mn the previous day.
The Gulf individual investors’ net buying expanded marginally to QR0.97mn against QR0.2mn on Sunday.
The domestic institutions’ net profit booking shrank perceptibly to QR22.45mn compared to QR29.08mn on March 24.
The Arab funds had no major net exposure for the second straight session.
Trade volumes in the main market shot up 29% to 136.21mn shares, value by 68% to QR461.64mn and deals by 69% to 16,344.
The venture market saw 91% plunge in trade volumes to 0.02mn equities, 91% in value to QR0.03mn and 91% in transactions to 3.