The US-China trade deal had its positive influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Monday as its key index gained 77 points to cross the 10,600 levels.

The foreign funds were increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.73% to 10,609.25 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,636 points.

The industrials, banks and insurance counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main market, which for the first time this year turned black as it reported 0.36% gains year-to-date.

About 68% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR5.72bn or 0.92% to QR624.34bn on the back of large and small cap segments.

The Gulf institutions were increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.62mn trade across 12 deals.

The domestic funds were seen bullish in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.

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

However, the local retail investors turned net profit takers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The Total Return Index rose 0.73%, the All Islamic Index by 0.65% and the All Share Index by 0.85% in the main market.

The industrials sector index shot up 1.72%, banks and financial services (0.9%), insurance (0.81%), transport (0.49%), consumer goods and services (0.24%) and real estate (0.18%); while telecom declined 0.99%.

Major movers in the main market included Qatar Electricity and Water, Estithmar Holding, Industries Qatar, Widam Food, QNB, Qamco, QIIB, Salam International Investment, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Baladna, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Milaha and United Development Company. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.

Nevertheless, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Vodafone Qatar, Commercial Bank, Qatar Oman Investment and Ooredoo were among the shakers in the main market.

The foreign institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR74.8mn compared to QR6.76mn on Sunday.

The Gulf institutions’ net buying expanded significantly to QR10.25mn against QR2.21mn the previous day.

The domestic institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR9.2mn compared with net sellers of QR37.12mn on May 11.

However, the Qatari retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR85.98mn against net buyers of QR18.23mn on Sunday.

The foreign individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR4.25mn compared with net buyers of QR3.98mn the previous day.

The Arab individual investors turned net profit takers to the extent of QR2.64mn against net buyers of QR4.57mn on May 11.

The Gulf retail investors were net sellers to the tune of QR1.39mn compared with net buyers of QR1.38mn on Sunday.

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

The main market witnessed a 24% surge in trade volumes to 237.29mn shares, 61% in value to QR535.28mn and 96% in deals to 20,585.

In the venture market, a total of 57,602 equities valued at QR0.16mn change hands across 12 transactions.