Reflecting the rising geopolitical concerns, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) Monday saw its key index plummet more than 277 points and capitalisation erode about QR18bn.
An across the board selling dragged the 20-stock Qatar Index 2.6% to 10,410.6 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,688 points.
The foreign institutions were seen increasingly net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened further to 3.27%.
About 89% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation eroded QR17.63bn or 2.78% to QR617.57bn mainly on account of large and midcap segments.
The Gulf institutions were increasingly bearish in the main market, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise.
However, the local retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.07mn trade across nine deals.
The domestic funds were increasingly bullish in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Islamic index declined faster than the other indices of the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index tanked 2.08%, the All Share Index by 2.11% and the Al Rayan Islamic Index by 2.83% in the main bourse.
The insurance sector index plunged 2.48%, industrials (2.31%), telecom (2.13%), banks and financial services (2.09%), consumer goods and services (1.95%), transport (1.85%) and real estate (1.78%).
As many as 47 declined, while only three gained and three were unchanged in the main market.
Major shakers in the main market included Barwa, Ooredoo, Mosanada Facilities Management Services, Qamco, QLM, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Woqod, Widam, Meeza, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Industries Qatar, Nebras Energy, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qatar Insurance, Ezdan and Nakilat. In the juniour bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Al Mahhar Holding, Dukhan Bank and Doha Insurance were the three gainers in the main market.
The foreign institutions’ net selling increased substantially to QR68.51mn against QR15.31mn the previous day.
The Gulf funds’ net profit booking expanded significantly to QR64.66mn compared to QR27.19mn on March 8.
The Arab individual investors’ net buying weakened markedly to QR6.62mn against QR11.02mn on Sunday.
However, the local individuals’ net buying strengthened drastically to QR69.89mn compared to QR12.48mn the previous day.
The domestic institutions’ net buying rose considerably to QR49.48mn against QR15.83mn on March 8.
The foreign retail investors’ net buying increased perceptibly to QR5.83mn compared to QR4.77mn on Sunday.
The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.89mn against net sellers of QR1.59mn the previous day.
The Arab institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.45mn compared with no major net exposure on March 8.
The main market saw less than 1% jump in trade volumes at 186.17mn shares, 9% in value to QR498.24mn and 30% in deals to 35,039.
In the venture market, a total of 0.05mn equities valued at QR0.09mn changed hands across 12 transactions.
