Softer US core inflation data and Gaza ceasefire had their reflection on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which settled in the positive trajectory this week.

The domestic institutions were increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.29% this week which saw QNB report net profit of QR16.72bn in 2024.

The transport, telecom and industrials counters witnessed higher than average demand this week which saw Qatar Islamic Bank report net profit of QR4.61bn in 2024.

The foreign institutions’ weakened net profit booking had its influence in the main market this week which saw Aamal Company’s moves to establish a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia.

The Arab institutions turned net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.19mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QATR worth QR0.43mn trade across 51 deals.

The Gulf institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.11mn change hands across 12 transactions.

The foreign retail investors also continued to be bullish but with lesser vigour in the main bourse this week which saw AlRayan Bank, in partnership with ProgressSoft, implement the Qatar Central Bank’s new real time gross settlement system.

The Islamic index was seen declining vis-à-vis gains in the other indices in the main market this week, which saw market capitalisation decline QR0.74bn or 0.12% to QR613.07bn on the back of microcap segments.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the main market as well as junior bourse this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.

The local retail investors were increasingly net sellers this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The Total Return Index rose 0.29% and the All Share Index by 0.07%; while the All Islamic Index was down 0.18% this week which saw the global credit rating agency Moody’s view that Qatar’s growth will be supported by petrochemicals industry and construction related to expansion of liquefied natural gas.

The transport sector index shot up 3.37%, telecom (1.07%) and industrials (0.52%); while real estate declined 1.33%, consumer goods and services (0.78%), insurance (0.78%) and banks and financial services (0.46%) this week which saw industrials, banking and realty sector together constitute about 71% of total trade volumes.

Major gainers in the main market included Nakilat, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Aamal Company, Doha Insurance, Estithmar Holding, Qamco, Mazaya Qatar and Ooredoo. In the junior bourse, both Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares appreciate in value this week.

As much as 62% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Ezdan, Lesha Bank, Gulf Warehousing, Alijarah Holding, Dukhan Bank, Masraf Al Rayan, Widam Food and Meeza this week.

The domestic institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR92.04mn compared to QR22.53mn the week ended January 9.

The Arab funds turned net buyers to the sellers to the extent of QR0.68mn against net sellers of QR0.1mn a week ago.

The foreign institutions’ net selling decreased noticeably to QR82.29mn compared to QR99.17mn the previous week.

However, the Qatari individuals’ net selling strengthened markedly to QR16.96mn against QR4.66mn the week ended January 9.

The Arab retail investors were net sellers to the tune of QR6.74mn compared with net buyers of QR16.57mn a week ago.

The Gulf individuals turned net profit takers to the extent of QR3.69mn against net buyers of QR2.25mn the previous week.

The Gulf institutions’ net buying shrank drastically to QR13.42mn compared to QR50.5mn the week ended January 9.

The foreign individual investors’ net buying eased notably to QR3.53mn against QR12.09mn a week ago.

The main market saw 4% jump in trade volumes to 670.83mn shares, 2% in value to QR1.89bn and 4% in deals to 72,381 this week.

In the venture market, trade volumes were up 2% to 1.83mn equities and value by 2% to QR4.64mn, whereas transactions tanked 25% to 155.
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