QSE reverses 3-week bearish spell as Gulf funds turn bullish; M-cap adds QR3.63bn

The US rate-cut hopes and Gaza ceasefire had their overarching influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which reported gains this week vis-a-vis bearish spell in the previous three weeks.

Notwithstanding selling pressure in five of the seven sectors, the 20-stock Qatar Index gained 0.65% this week which saw QNB report net profit of QR12.83bn in the first nine months of this year.

The Gulf institutions were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw Dukhan Bank post net profit of QR1.19bn in January-September 2025.

The Arab individuals were increasingly net buyers in the main market this week which saw Mazaya Real Estate Development, in partnership with Al Jassasya Holding Company, launch a new project “Via D’oro” on Qetaifan Island in Lusail City.

The Arab institutions turned bullish, albeit at lower levels, in the main bourse this week which saw QNB Group receive licence for a digital-first banking entity, ezbank, from the Central Bank of Egypt.

The foreign funds’ substantially weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse this week which saw QNB Group's successful refinancing of $1.5bn unsecured syndicated term loan facility.

However, the local retail investors were increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw a total of 0.77mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR1.88mn trade across 267 deals.

The domestic funds were also increasingly net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 7,307 AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.08mn trade across nine deals.

The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.

Market capitalisation expanded QR3.63bn or 0.56% to QR654.22bn on the back of mid cap segments this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease in the main and junior markets this week which saw the consumer goods, industrials and realty sectors together constitute more than 77% of the total trade volumes.

The Total Return Index rose 0.65%, the All Share Index by 0.71% and the All Islamic Index by 0.25%.

The banks and financial services sector index shot up 1.56% and telecom 0.63%; while transport declined 0.74%, insurance (0.7%), real estate (0.65%), consumer goods and services (0.61%) and industrials (0.19%) this week.

The market was otherwise skewed towards shakers with as many as 31 constituents reporting declines, while 20 gained and two were unchanged this week.

Major gainers in the main market included Qamco, QNB, Al Mahhar Holding, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, QIIB, Dukhan Bank, Aamal Company and Ooredoo.

Nevertheless, about 59% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Widam Food, Inma Holding, Ezdan, Qatar National Cement, Gulf Warehousing, Qatar German Medical Devices, Medicare Group, United Development Company, Mazaya Qatar and Nakilat in the main bourse.

In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.

The Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR43.96mn compared with net sellers of QR50.01mn the previous week.

The Arab individual investors’ net buying increased perceptibly to QR7.68mn against QR2.25mn the week ended October 2.

The Arab institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.15mn compared with no major net exposure a week ago.

The foreign institutions’ net selling weakened significantly to QR0.97mn against QR90.53mn the previous week.

However, the Qatari individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR38.51mn compared with net buyers of QR124.11mn the week ended October 2.

The domestic institutions’ net profit booking expanded marginally to QR13.16mn against QR12.59mn a week ago.

The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR0.73mn compared with net buyers of QR8.85mn the previous week.

The foreign retail investors’ net buying shrank noticeably to QR1.57mn against QR17.92mn the week ended October 2.

The main market saw a 9% contraction in trade volumes to 573.88mn shares, 24% in value to QR1.42bn and 22% in deals to 83,240 this week.

In the venture market, trade volumes plummeted 90% to 0.06mn equities, value by 91% to QR0.15mn and transactions by 80% to 38.