The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) witnessed higher than average demand, especially in the transport, industrials and telecom counters, as it closed 95 points higher this week, which otherwise saw uncertainties loom large over the US’ shifting tariff strategies.
The domestic institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.91% this week which saw Qatar’s seven local banks’ consortium, led by QNB, sign a QR4.5bn financing deal with Qatar Airways.
The local retail investors continued to be bullish but with lesser vigour this week which saw the Ministry of Finance disclose a QR0.5bn budget deficit in the first quarter of this year.
The Gulf funds continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse this week which saw the Qatar Financial Market Authority develop an electronic system to monitor the capital adequacy of companies and launch a new electronic trading surveillance system as part of its future projects and plans.
The Gulf retail investors turned bullish in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.07mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.17mn trade across 28 deals.
However, about 53% 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 QR0.6mn change hands across seven transactions.
The foreign institutions’ substantially weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Arab funds were seen increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The foreign individuals continued to be bullish but with lesser vigour in the main bourse this week which saw Qatar Islamic Bank successfully issue a $750mn sukuk, which saw 2.3 times oversubscription.
The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the key index of the main market this week, which saw a global credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s view that Qatar is expected not to face any liquidity or solvency issue, even as its fiscal balance swings back to deficit in Q1-2025 for first time in more than three years.
Market capitalisation added QR4.34bn or 0.7% to QR624.37bn on the back of mid and small cap segments this week which saw the real estate, industrials and banks together constitute more than 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 Estithmar Holding and Ezdan Holding Group replace Baladna and United Development Company in the QSE’s main QE Index.
The Total Return Index gained 0.91%, the All Islamic Index by 0.81% and the All Share Index by 0.71% this week which saw Qatar’s ports register a double-digit yearly jump in ships arrival as well as brisk movement seen in livestock, building materials, cargoes and containers in May 2025.
The transport sector index surged 2.63%, industrials (1.38%), telecom (1.12%), and banks and financial services (0.72%); while realty declined 2.9%, insurance (0.5%) and consumer goods and services (1.14%) this week.
Major movers in the main bourse included Meeza, Qatar Islamic Bank, Milaha, Al Meera, Nakilat, Dukhan Bank, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatar Electricity and Water, Qamco and Vodafone Qatar.
In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value this week.
Nevertheless, Barwa, Commercial Bank, Alijarah Holding, Salam International Investment, Woqod, Doha Bank, Lesha Bank, Baladna, Qatar National Cement, Aamal Company, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Estithmar Holding, Qatar Insurance and Mazaya Qatar were among the main shakers in the man bourse this week.
The Gulf individual investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR5.09mn against net sellers of QR2.14mn the previous week.
The Arab institutions’ net buying strengthened marginally to QR0.32mn against QR0.03mn the week ended May 29.
The foreign institutions’ net selling weakened substantially to QR92.16mn compared to QR357.99mn a week ago.
However, the Arab individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR10.92mn against net buyers of QR19.58mn the previous week.
The domestic institutions’ net buying shrank substantially to QR57.72mn compared to QR262.9mn the week ended May 29.
The local individual investors’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR30.35mn against QR32.41mn a week ago.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying decreased markedly to QR6.47mn compared to QR32.98mn the previous week.
The foreign individual investors’ net eased notably to QR3.14mn against QR12.25mn the week ended May 29.
The main market saw 34% plunge in trade volumes to 682.41mn shares, 47% in value to QR1.63bn and 8% in deals to 106,715 this week.
In the venture market, trade volumes plummeted 43% to 0.04mn equities, value by 39% to QR0.11mn and transactions by 41% to 13.
