Dragged mainly by telecom, insurance and transport sectors, the 20-stock Qatar Index lost 0.68% to 9,958.01 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,031 points.
The domestic funds were seen net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened further to 8.06%.
As much as 61% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation eroded QR3.03bn or 0.53% to QR573.77bn with small and microcap segments leading the pack of losers.
The Gulf institutions turned bearish in the main market, which saw as many as 795 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Doha Bank) valued at QR7,957 trade across one deal.
The foreign institutions were seen net sellers, albeit at lower levels, 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 0.68%, the All Islamic Index by 0.65% and the All Share Index by 0.63% in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease.
The telecom sector index tanked 1.4%, insurance (1.29%), transport (1.06%), banks and financial services (0.89%), consumer goods and services (0.48%) and real estate (0.08%); while industrials gained 0.2%.
Major losers in the main market included Doha Insurance, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Al Khaleej Takaful, Baladna, Milaha, Qatar Islamic Bank, Gulf International Services, Qatar Insurance, QLM, Ezdan, Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar.
Nevertheless, Ahlibank Qatar, Meeza, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Beema, United Development Company and Mazaya Qatar were among the gainers in the main bourse.
In the venture, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.
The domestic funds turned net sellers to the tune of QR37.99mn compared with net buyers of QR135.64mn on March 26.
The Gulf institutions were net sellers to the extent of QR15.94mn against net buyers of QR2.48mn on Tuesday.
The foreign funds turned net profit takers to the tune of QR0.17mn compared with net buyers of QR11.32mn the previous day.
The Gulf individual investors’ net buying declined perceptibly to QR0.25mn against QR0.4mn on March 26.
The foreign retail investors’ net buying weakened marginally to QR4.27mn compared to QR4.46mn on Tuesday.
However, the Qatari individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR44.14mn against net sellers of QR150.01mn the previous day.
The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR5.45mn compared with net profit takers of QR4.3mn on March 26.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the fourth straight session.
Trade volumes in the main market shrank 31% to 123.12mn shares, value by 27% to QR428.23mn and deals by 5% to 14,198.
The venture market saw a 30% contraction in trade volumes to 0.07mn equities, 27% in value to QR0.11mn and 23% in transactions to 10.
