The Qatar Stock Exchange Sunday opened the week on a stronger note with its key index edging up marginally higher on the back of buying interests, especially of Arab retail investors.
A higher than average demand in the real estate, industrials, telecom and consumer goods sectors led the 20-stock Qatar Index rise 0.05% to 10,668.05 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,700 points.
The Gulf individuals were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, whose year-to-date losses were at 0.93%.
As much as 52% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation however was up QR0.98bn or 0.15% to QR635.93bn mainly owing to microcap segments.
The foreign funds’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main market, whose trade turnover fell amidst higher volumes.
The domestic institutions continued to be bullish but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, which saw as many as 3,053 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.01mn trade across six deals.
The local retail investors were seen net profit takers in the main market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds/sukuks.
The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices of the main bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index was up 0.05% and the Al Rayan Islamic Index by 0.28%; while the All Share Index was down 0.04% in the main bourse.
The realty sector index increased 0.77%, telecom (0.59%), industrials (0.58%) and consumer goods and services (0.46%); while insurance declined 1.09%, transport (0.35%) and banks and financial services (0.34%).
As many as 28 gained, while 17 declined and nine were unchanged in the main market.
Major movers in the main market included Baladna, Mazaya Qatar, Ezdan, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Medicare Group, Dlala, Salam International Investment and Estithmar Holding.
Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Zad Holding, Qatar Insurance, Doha Bank and Lesha Bank were among the shakers in the main bourse.
In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.
The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR7.25mn compared with net sellers of QR6.37mn last Thursday.
The Gulf retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR0.2mn against net sellers of QR1.47mn on April 23.
The foreign funds’ net selling decreased substantially to QR0.02mn compared to QR42.75mn the previous trading day.
However, Qatari individuals turned net sellers to the extent of QR9.48mn against net buyers of QR7.93mn last Thursday.
The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking expanded perceptibly to QR7.38mn compared to QR6.01mn on April 23.
The domestic funds’ net buying weakened significantly to QR8.36mn against QR40.43mn the previous trading day.
The foreign individual investors’ net buying shrank markedly to QR1.08mn compared to QR8.54mn last Thursday.
The Arab funds had no major net exposure for the third straight session.
The main market saw a 48% surge in trade volumes to 234.06mn shares but on 5% fall in value to QR425.48mn and 27% in deals to 20,056.
In the venture market, a total of 0.38mn equities valued at QR0.84mn changed hands across 95 transactions.
