Reflecting the geopolitical concerns, the Qatar Stock Exchange continued its bearish run for the second straight session with its key index losing as much as 30 points.
The local retail investors were increasingly net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index fell 0.26% to 11,355.36 points, although it touched an intraday high of 11,386 points.
The insurance, real estate, consumer goods and banking counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 5.51%.
The Arab individuals were seen increasingly bearish in the main bourse, whose capitalisation shed QR1.67bn or 0.25% to QR679.8bn mainly on small and microcap segments.
The foreign retail investors turned net sellers in the main market, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.
The Arab institutions were seen net profit takers, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, which saw as many as 215 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR502 trade across one deal.
The Gulf funds’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The foreign institutions’ lower net buying also had its effect on the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index fell 0.26%, the All Share Index by 0.29% and the All Islamic Index by 0.36% in the main bourse.
The insurance sector index tanked 1.61%, realty (0.57%), consumer goods and services (0.56%), banks and financial services (0.43%), telecom (01.4%) and industrials (0.08%); while transport gained 0.99%.
As many as 10 gained, while 39 also declined and four were unchanged.
Major shakers in the main market included Qatar Insurance, Gulf Warehousing, Medicare Group, Inma Holding, Nebras Energy, QIIB, Gulf International Services, Qamco, Ezdan and Mazaya Qatar.
Nevertheless, Qatar National Cement, Nakilat, Estithmar Holding, Milaha and Widam Food were among the gainers in the main bourse.
In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.
The Qatari individuals’ net selling increased noticeably to QR9.95mn compared to QR5.98mn the previous day.
The Arab retail investors’ net selling expanded considerably to QR5.64mn against QR0.87mn on February 4.
The foreign individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR2.48mn compared with net buyers of QR0.58mn on Wednesday.
The Arab funds turned net profit takers to the extent of QR0.25mn against no major net exposure the previous day.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR13.78mn compared to QR19.54mn on February 4.
The foreign funds’ net buying decreased marginally to QR18.01mn against QR19.06mn on Wednesday.
However, the domestic funds’ net selling fell substantially to QR13.26mn compared to QR31.95mn the previous day.
The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR0.2mn against QR0.37mn on February 4.
The main market saw a 23% contraction in trade volumes to 94.62mn shares, 21% in value to QR311.2mn and 27% in deals to 18,799.
In the venture market, a total of 0.02mn equities valued at QR0.04mn changed hands across six transactions.