Notwithstanding the global concerns regarding the US’ tariff policy, the Qatar Stock Exchange on Monday gained more than 16 points on buying interests especially at the telecom and banking counters.

The foreign funds turned bullish as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.15% to 10,666.88 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,618 points.

As much as 51% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation was up QR0.4bn or 0.06% to QR624.04bn on the back of microcap segments.

The Arab institutions were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, which saw as many as 9,691 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at mere QR0.06mn changed hands across seven deals.

The Gulf institutions’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.

The Islamic index was seen declining vis-à-vis gains in the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.

The domestic institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The Total Return Index rose 0.15% and the All Share Index by 0.11%, while the All Islamic Index was down 0.02% in the main market.

The telecom sector index gained 0.73%, banks and financial services (0.51%) and transport (0.09%); while industrials declined 0.73%, real estate (0.64%), insurance (0.32%) and consumer goods and services (0.12%).

Major gainers in the main bourse included Qatar Oman Investment, Beema, Commercial Bank, Dukhan Bank, Doha Bank, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar and Nakilat.

Nevertheless, Qatar National Cement, Industries Qatar, Estithmar Holding, Mazaya Qatar, Milaha, Qatar Islamic Insurance and Qatari Investors Group were among the losers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value.

The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR25.33mn compared with net sellers of QR15mn on January 24.

The Arab institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.05mn against no major net exposure the previous day.

The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking declined noticeably to QR4.89mn compared to QR6.92mn on Sunday.

The Gulf individual investors’ net selling weakened markedly to QR0.2mn against QR7.14mn on January 24.

However, the Qatari retail investors’ net selling expanded drastically to QR27.63mn compared to QR3.68mn the previous day.

The foreign individual investors were net sellers to the extent of QR7.18mn against net buyers of QR0.58mn on Sunday.

The Arab retail investors turned net sellers to the extent of QR1.23mn compared with net buyers of QR7.35mn on January 26.

The domestic institutions’ net buying decreased perceptibly to QR15.78mn against QR24.8mn the previous day.

Trade volumes in the main market shrank 2% to 145.21mn shares, value by 2% to QR353.88mn and deals by 22% to 14,496.

The venture market saw a 63% contraction in trade volumes to 0.13mn equities, 64% in value to QR0.33mn and 60% in transactions to 25.