International trade concerns over the US tariffs and unstable oil markets had played spoilsport on the regional bourses, reflecting in a steep 311 points decline and more than QR16bn erosion in capitalisation in the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) this week.

The regional geopolitical tensions was also seen instrumental in a 2.89% plunge in 20-stock Qatar Index this week which saw Fitch, an international credit rating agency, view that Qatar's banking sector has less pressure for consolidation in the Gulf region, which otherwise is prone to stronger mergers and acquisitions momentum on lower oil revenues.

The foreign funds were seen net profit takers this week which saw Nakilat commence construction of 17 liquefied natural gas vessels at Hyundai Heavy Industries Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.

The telecom, banking and transport counters experienced higher than average selling pressure this week which saw Milaha sign a strategic pact with Fincantieri for cooperation in areas such as marine services, project management, and technology integration.

The Gulf individuals were seen increasingly bearish in the main bourse this week which saw International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation say that Qatar’s Islamic liquidity management sector is slated to evolve rapidly in the near-to-medium term with demand for short-term, high-quality, liquid assets on the rise.

The Gulf institutions’ substantially weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.05mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.1mn trade across 26 deals.

About 76% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.1mn change hands across 12 transactions.

The domestic institutions however turned net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

The Arab individuals were seen increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.

The foreign individuals were also increasingly bullish in the main bourse this week which saw AlRayan Bank successfully issue $500mn five-year senior unsecured RegS sukuk at a final Price of five-year US Treasuries + 80 basis points.

The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw a global credit rating agency Standard and Poor's upgrade Doha Insurance Group's future outlook to "positive" from "stable", while affirming the group's credit rating at "A-".

Market capitalisation eroded QR16.49bn or 2.59% to QR620.03bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw the banks, industrials and consumer goods sectors together constitute about 74% of the total trade volumes.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in both the main and ventures markets this week which saw Al Mahhar Holding shareholders give approval to the subsidiary Qatar Welding and Fabrication Supplies for acquiring the remaining 49% stake in European Equipment Company or EEC.

The Total Return Index plummeted 2.89%, the All Islamic Index by 3.23% and the All Share Index by 2.63% this week which saw Al Mahhar shareholders also give nod for the potential acquisition by its subsidiary Petrotec of a 90% stake in Gulf Automation System or GAS.

The telecom sector index tanked 4.62%, banks and financial services (3.01%), transport (2.97%), industrials (2.81%) and consumer goods and services (0.33%); while real estate and insurance gained 1.41% and 0.31% respectively this week.

Major shakers in the main market include Qatar Islamic Bank, QLM, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, AlRayan Bank, QNB, QIIB, Lesha Bank, Qatar Oman Investment, Baladna, Industries Qatar, Qamco, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Medicare Group, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Mazaya Qatar, United Development Company, Milaha and Nakilat. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.

Nevertheless, Mannai Corporation, Estithmar Holding, Commercial Bank, Barwa and Qatar Islamic Insurance were among the movers in the main market this week.

The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR357.99mn compared with net buyers of QR61.44mn the previous week.

The Gulf individual investors’ net selling grew perceptibly to QR2.14mn against QR1.5mn the week ended May 22.

The Gulf institutions’ net buying eased significantly to QR32.98mn compared to QR121.39mn a week ago.

The Arab institutions’ net buying weakened markedly to QR0.03mn against QR1.3mn the previous week.

However, the domestic funds were net buyers to the extent of QR262.9mn compared with net sellers of QR63.47mn the week ended May 22.

The local retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR32.41mn against net profit takers of QR136.02mn a week ago.

The Arab individuals’ net buying expanded markedly to QR19.58mn compared to QR13.32mn the previous week.

The foreign retail investors’ net buying zoomed notably to QR12.25mn against QR3.54mn the week ended May 22.

The main market saw 30% plunge in trade volumes to 1.04bn shares, 3% in value to QR3.09bn and 13% in deals to 115,643 this week.

In the venture market, trade volumes plummeted 82% to 0.07mn equities, value by 83% to QR0.18mn and transactions by 63% to 22.