Expectations on corporate earnings masked concerns regarding the US trade policies that the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Monday gained more than 45 points and capitalisation added in excess of QR2bn.

The domestic institutions were increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.43% to 10,629.2 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,578 points.

As much as 64% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR2.09bn or 0.34% to QR621.4bn on the back of midcap segments.

The foreign retail investors were seen increasingly bullish in the main market, which saw as many as 0.05mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.11mn changed hands across 11 deals.

However, the Gulf funds were increasingly net profit takers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.

The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.

The local retail investor turned net sellers in the main bourse, which saw as many as 0.11mn sovereign bonds valued at QR1.06bn trade across three transactions.

The Total Return Index gained 0.43%, the All Share Index by 0.39% and the All Islamic Index by 0.39% in the main market.

The consumer goods and services sector index rose 0.79%, telecom (0.71%), transport (0.55%), banks and financial services (0.55%) and industrials (0.02%); while real estate declined 0.62% and insurance 0.51%.

Major gainers in the main market included Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Beema, Zad Holding, Milaha, Baladna, Qatar Islamic Bank, Mannai Corporation and Ooredoo.

Nevertheless, United Development Company, Mazaya Qatar, Gulf Warehousing, Qatar Insurance, Ezdan and Vodafone Qatar were among the losers in the bourse. In the venture market, both Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value.

The domestic institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR47.66mn compared to QR3.36mn on February 9.

The foreign individual investors’ net buying expanded marginally to QR2.4mn against QR1.95mn the previous day.

The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking eased perceptibly to QR0.06mn compared to QR2.71mn on Sunday.

However, the Gulf institutions’ net selling shot up noticeably to QR17.56mn against QR3.13mn on February 9.

The Qatari individuals turned net sellers to the extent of QR14.29mn compared with net buyers of QR6mn the previous day.

The foreign institutions’ net profit booking strengthened marginally to QR11.89mn against QR10.92mn on Sunday.

The Arab retail investors were net sellers to the tune of QR6.26mn compared with net buyers of QR5.46mn on February 9.

The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight session.

Trade volumes in the main market soared 21% to 117.48mn shares, value by 61% to QR355.73mn and deals by 76% to 12,779.

The venture market saw trade volumes jumped more than 11-fold to 4.28mn equities and value by more than 13-fold to QR12.4mn but on 11% shrinkage in transactions to 31.