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Qatar reported an overall 0.8% year-on-year growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) during the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, powered by its non-oil sector, especially information and communication, transport and wholesale and retail trade, according to official estimates.Qatar's inflation-adjusted (real) economy is estimated to have grown despite contraction in the hydrocarbons sector, according to the National Planning Council (NPC) data.The real economy was up 1% on a quarterly basis during the review period with non-mining sector growth masking the decline in the mining sector.The mining and quarrying sector, under which hydrocarbons fall, is estimated to have fallen 2.6% year-on-year, but non-mining and quarrying sector jumped 2.8% to place the overall real GDP at QR177bn.The agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors were seen falling 5.2% and 4.8% on yearly and quarterly basis respectively during Q2-2024.On a quarterly basis, the real GDP (at constant prices) growth during Q2-2024 was mainly due to a 3.7% surge in the non-mining sector, even as mining and quarrying sector reported a 3.5% decrease.Within non-hydrocarbons, the information and communication segments is estimated to have expanded 8.8%, followed by transportation and storage (7.7%), real estate (6.9%), wholesale and retail trade (3.2%) and accommodation and food service (1.8%).Nevertheless, utilities saw a 6.9% decline, manufacturing (2.7%), construction (0.6%) and finance and insurance (0.1%) during the review period.On a quarterly basis, the accommodation and food services segment witnessed 9.1% surge, information and communication (8.4%), finance and insurance (7.2%), construction (7.2%), manufacturing (3.5%), realty (3%), wholesale and retail trade (1%), utilities (1%) and transportation and storage (0.2%) during Q2-2024.At constant prices, the construction sector contributed 11.1% to the GDP, followed by finance and insurance 8.5%, wholesale and retail trade 7.6%, manufacturing 7.4% and real estate 7.3% at the end of Q2-2024.On a nominal basis (at current prices), Qatar's GDP is estimated to have grown 0.7% and 0.9% year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter respectively at the end of Q2-2024.The non-mining and quarrying sectors shot up 1.8% and 3.7% on annualised and quarterly basis respectively during Q2-2024; whereas the mining sector reported 1% and 3.4% contraction year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter respectively.Within non-hydrocarbons (in nominal terms), there was an 8.2% year-on-year jump in transportation and storage, 7.9% in accommodation and food service, 7% in real estate and 4% in wholesale and retail trade during Q2-2024.Nevertheless, the construction sector saw a 3.8% decline, information and communication (3.6%), finance and insurance (1.6%), manufacturing (1.3%) and utilities (0.6%) during the review period.On a quarterly basis in nominal terms, the finance and insurance segment zoomed 9%, construction (7.5%), manufacturing (5.9%), real estate (3.9%) and wholesale and retail trade (0.6%) during Q2-2024.However, the information and communication segment saw a 3% shrinkage on a quarterly basis, transportation and storage (2.7%), utilities (0.5%) and accommodation and food services (0.3%) during Q2-2024.The import duties, on real terms, are estimated to have risen 10.7% year-on-year but shrank 12.1% quarter-on-quarter at the end of Q2-2024.On nominal terms, the import duties reported a 7.9% expansion year-on-year, whereas it plunged 8.9% on a quarterly basis during the review period.

Technology sits at the heart of the industry and is one of the key sectors to be used for achieving economic diversification of Qatar, which has already rolled out $2.5bn of incentives to encourage innovations and digitisation, HE the Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari on Saturday told the 22nd Doha Forum."Definitely this is the anchor...As part of our Third National Development Strategy toward Qatar Vision 2030, technology sits at the heart of our industry," al-Kuwari said at one of the panel sessions at the Doha Forum, which was moderated by Borge Brende, the World Economic Forum president and chief executive officer.Highlighting that the key growth is coming from technology, AI (artificial intelligence) and innovations; he said technology is no longer seen as a necessity only for improving processes but now it is viewed as a necessity to achieve economic growth."The role of technology is changing. And it's basically who has it today, they have the growth; who doesn't have it, they lost it," he said, referring to the critical importance of technology and innovations.In this context, the minister said Qatar has already pledged multi-billion dollar incentives to encourage innovations, digitisation and AI.At the Qatar Economic Forum 2024, HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani had announced $2.5bn in incentives to advance the country’s programmes in AI (artificial intelligence), technology and innovation.Al-Kuwari highlighted the $1bn fund-of-funds to attract funds from the region or overseas to establish the business in Doha.The Qatar Investment Authority’s (QIA) $1bn ‘fund-of-funds’, could catalyse venture capital (VC) activity in the country, experts said, adding the impact of the fund-of-funds extends beyond direct investments.Highlighting Ooredoo's $1bn investment in expanding data centre capacity and also its tie up with the US-chip maker Nvidia; Google Cloud Center of Excellence and Microsoft Azure establishing in free zones; the finance minister said, "We see Qatar already taking the position, and the opportunities are tremendous.""We are in a good position to leverage in that. Qatar has one of the fastest Internet speeds in the world, whether it's a mobile or fixed line. So this really gives us, a good opportunity," he said.Qatar has identified six critical factors – which include national innovation strategy, high research and development (R&D) levels and diverse funding options for SMEs (small and medium enterprises) – for establishing and maintaining a successful startup ecosystem, according to Invest Qatar.

Qatar on Saturday established The World Economic Forum's (WEF) Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), formed and hosted by the Ministry of Finance.The centre, an autonomous non-profit entity on policy and governance for emerging technologies, was launched at the 22nd Doha Forum, which got underway."This landmark initiative is a testament to Qatar's unwavering commitment to harnessing the transformative power of technology and innovation to shape prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future," said HE the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari in the presence of WEF president and chief executive officer Borge Brende.C4IR is the third in the Arab world and it will become a hub of expertise to co-design and pilot future-focused policy frameworks that enable the development and deployment of technology regionally and globally. It will collaborate with other national stakeholders from the private and public sectors."Through this centre, Qatar is not only embracing the future, but leading it by leveraging our position as a global hub for innovations to foster solutions that transcend borders and resonate the global priorities," he said.C4IR Qatar will be a platform through which Doha will shape the development of local and national fourth industrial revolution strategies in line with its national development strategy.The WEF had in January signed a collaboration agreement with Qatar to establish C4IR in Qatar.Highlighting that technology such as AI (artificial intelligence), IoT or Internet of Things, and advanced robotics are not just disruptive industries but are redefining possibilities; al-Kuwari said in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, this centre will serve as a catalyst for accelerating sustainable economic growth and achieving the country's strategic priorities.As a member of the WEF’s global C4IR network, the centre connects Qatar to a dynamic ecosystem of expertise, collaboration, and innovation across 18 countries in five continents, he said, adding this partnership will allow Doha to draw on global best practices, while tailoring solutions to the unique opportunities in Qatar."We aim to generate actionable knowledge to help businesses use fourth industrial revolution technology, as well as providing advice to develop agile policies and piloting impactful projects. We expect these developments to benefit from all segments of society, while safeguarding ethical integrity and sustainable standards," according to al-Kuwari.The C4IR is a platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration, bringing together public and private sectors to maximise technological benefits to society while minimising the risks.The WEF launched the first C4IR in San Francisco in 2017, followed by centres in Japan and India. The network now includes centres in Austin (Centre for Trustworthy Technology), Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, Detroit (the US Centre for Advanced Manufacturing), Germany (Global Government Technology Centre), Israel, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Norway (HUB Ocean), Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Telangana (India), Turkiye and the UAE.

The population growth (in terms of live births) among expatriates in Qatar was seen faster than those among the nationals and higher than the national average in September 2024 on an annualised basis, according to the official estimates. Among nationals, live births of boys grew faster year-on-year than those of girls; whereas in the case of non-Qataris, live births of girls grew faster than those of boys in the review period, according to the National Planning Council (NPC).The country witnessed 2,743 live births in September 2024, registering a 23.4% and 4.9% increase year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. Qatar saw 1,412 live births of boys in September 2024, reporting 20.4% and 2.2% jump on an annualised and yearly basis respectively. In the case of girls, live births were 1,331, reporting 26.9% and 7.9% increase year-on-year and month-on-month in the review period.Total live births of nationals were 678 in the review period, registering 20.9% and 11% growth year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. They constituted about 25% of the total live births in the country this September.Among nationals, as many as 371 live births of boys were reported in September 2024, which was up 24.5% and 14.9% on yearly and monthly basis respectively. As many as 307 live births of girls were seen in the review period, which reported 16.7% and 6.6% growth respectively in the review period.Total live births within expatriates were 2,065 in September 2024, registering 24.3% and 3% jump year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. They constituted 75% of the total live births in the country in the review period.Among the expatriates, as many as 1,041 live births of boys were recorded this September, which grew 19% on a yearly basis but declined 1.7% month-on-month. As many as 1,024 live births of girls were seen in the review period, which shot up 30.3% and 8.4% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively.Total population in the country otherwise stood at 3.14mn in September 2024, growing 2.7% and 2.8% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. Total male population in the country stood at 2.21mn in September 2024, registering 0.3% and 2% growth on yearly and monthly basis respectively. Males constituted 70% of the total population in the country in the review period.Total female population in the country stood at 0.93mn this September, growing 8.8% and 4.6% respectively. They constituted 30% of the total population in the review period. On an annualised basis, population of those in the age group of 15-24 years witnessed the fastest growth of 8.5% against the national average of 2.7%; followed by less than 15 years (7.8%), more than 65 years (5.8%) and 25-64 years (0.8%).On a monthly basis, population of those in the age group of less than 15 years saw the maximum growth of 6.5% compared to national average of 2.8%; followed by more than 65 years (4.2%), 25-64 years (2.3%) and 15-24 years (1%).

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) witnessed strong selling pressure from local retail investors, leading to 26 points decline in its key index this week, which otherwise saw regional sentiments strengthen ahead of an Opec+ meeting and a likely US interest rate cuts.Five of the seven sectors witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index fell 0.25% this week which saw the Qatar Financial Centre’s purchasing managers’ index reveal that the sustained growth in new business led Doha report solid improvement in its non-energy private sector in November 2024.The industrials, real estate, telecom, consumer goods, transport and insurance were seen as the drag in the main bourse this week which saw Qatar’s ports see increased ship calls and higher volumes of cargoes and RORO in November 2024.The foreign retail investors were increasingly bearish this week which saw Estithmar Holding sign a 15-year contract for managing a hospital in Libya.The Arab individuals were seen increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw Qatar’s automobile sector register double-digit year-on-year growth in new registrations this September.The Arab institutions turned net sellers, albeit at lower levels, in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.1mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QATR worth QR0.24mn trade across 21 deals.The domestic funds’ substantially weakened net buying had its influence in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.03mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.24mn change hands across seven transactionsHowever, the Gulf retail investors were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw the banks and industrials sectors together constitute about 56% of the total trade volumes.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the main market this week, which saw market capitalisation melt QR2.09bn or 0.34% to QR615.07bn on the back of small and microcap segments.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the main and junior markets this week which saw not trading of treasury bills and sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index fell 0.25%, the All Share Index by 0.2% and the All Islamic Index by 0.6% this week.The industrials sector index tanked 1.08%, realty (0.61%), telecom (0.61%), consumer goods and services (0.6%), transport (0.54%) and insurance (0.46%); while banks and financial services gained 0.35% this week.Major losers in the main bourse included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Medicare Group, Qatari Investors Group, Dukhan Bank, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qamco, Mazaya Qatar, Ezdan, Vodafone Qatar and Gulf Warehousing. In the venture market, both Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value this week.Nevertheless, Alijarah Holding, Commercial Bank, Dlala, Widam Food, Doha Bank and Lesha Bank were among the gainers in the main market this week.The Qatari individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR31.94mn against net buyers of QR32.88mn the week ended November 28.The foreign individual investors’ net selling grew significantly to QR7.47mn compared to QR0.13mn the previous week.The Arab retail investors’ net profit booking increased perceptibly to QR5.58mn against QR4.02mn a week ago.The Arab funds turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.02mn compared with no major net exposure the week ended November 28.The domestic institutions’ net buying fell substantially to QR71.61mn against QR185.63mn the previous week.However, the Gulf individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR1.84mn compared with net sellers of QR12.62mn a week ago.The foreign institutions’ net selling weakened drastically to QR10.06mn against QR134.58mn the week ended November 28.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking shrank considerably to QR18.18mn compared to QR67.17mn the previous week.The main market witnessed a 15% decline in trade volumes to 506.06mn shares, 38% in value to QR1.26bn and 10% in deals to 55,147 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes plummeted 23% to 0.54mn equities, value by 24% to QR1.39mn and transactions by 46% to 71.

A higher than average demand at the telecom, industrials and transport counters on Thursday led Qatar Stock Exchange to gain 54 points and capitalisation add about QR3bn.Ahead of an Opec+ meeting and a likely US interest rate cuts, the domestic institutions were seen increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index gain 0.52% to 10,391.75 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,337 points.The foreign funds turned bullish, albeit at lower levels, in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR2.91bn or 0.48% to QR615.07bn on the back of large and small cap segments.The Gulf individuals were seen net buyers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.05mn ETFs or the exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank), valued at QR0.11mn change hands across two deals.The foreign individuals’ weakened net profit booking had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main bourse, which saw as much as 49% of the traded constituents in the red.However, the Qatari retail investors turned net sellers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Gulf institutions were increasingly net profit takers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.52%, the All Share Index by 0.47% and the All Islamic Index by 0.37% in the main market.The telecom sector index shot up 1.07%, industrials (0.72%), transport (0.61%), banks and financial services (0.5%) and insurance (0.04%); while consumer goods and services declined 0.5% and real estate (0.43%).Major movers in the main market included Ooredoo, Industries Qatar, Nakilat, Estithmar Holding and Qatar Electricity and Water.Nevertheless, Medicare Group, Doha Bank, Qatari Investors Group, Qatar Oman Investment, Gulf Warehousing and Dukhan Bank were among the losers in the main bourse.In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.The domestic institutions’ net buying strengthened perceptibly to QR22.8mn compared to QR19.94mn on December 4.The Gulf retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.47mn against net sellers of QR0.01mn the previous day.The foreign institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.71mn compared with net sellers of QR13.86mn on Wednesday.The foreign individuals’ net profit booking declined noticeably to QR0.62mn against QR1.25mn on December 4.However, the Gulf institutions’ net selling expanded substantially to QR10.15mn compared to QR2.88mn the previous day.The Qatari individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR9.53mn against net buyers of QR0.03mn on Wednesday.The Arab retail investors’ net selling strengthened markedly to QR4.7mn compared to QR1.98mn on December 4.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the third straight session.Trade volumes in the main market fell 8% to 96.35mn shares, whereas value rose 2% to QR264.37mn and transactions by 12% to 12,391.In the venture market, trade volumes more than doubled to 0.07mn equities and value also more than doubled to QR0.18mn on 10% jump in deals to 11.

The GCC or Gulf Co-operation Council economies will more than double their growth from 1.9% in 2024 to 4% in 2025, according to The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).This acceleration comes despite the extension of Opec+ oil production cuts and positions the GCC to significantly outperform global GDP growth, which is projected to increase modestly from 2.7% in 2024 to 2.8% in 2025, according to the latest ICAEW Economic Insight report prepared by Oxford Economics.“The business landscape across the GCC continues to evolve and mature, creating new opportunities for growth and innovation," said Hanadi Khalife, Head of Middle East, ICAEW.The report said the direct impact of US President-elect Donald Trump’s policies on the GCC growth is likely to be limited in the near term, but it is slightly more cautious on its GCC growth projections."We see a broadly steady performance of the non-energy sectors, with expansion of 4% this year and next. We expect Trump’s policies will take time to feed through, with the impact on growth performance occurring mostly in 2026-27," it said.Finding that oil prices have been volatile in recent months, buffeted by geopolitical tensions in the region on one hand and concerns over demand on the other; ICAEW said the Opec+ alliance has delayed a planned supply increase until January (from December previously) in the face of weak demand, reinforcing the group's commitment to supporting oil prices.Highlighting that Trump’s stated support for the domestic energy sector may limit the pace of unwinding of the Opec+ supply cuts, although he will likely be tougher on Iran, potentially removing some of its crude exports off the market; the report said "we now expect Opec+ to keep output steady until the second quarter of 2025, and we forecast oil prices to average $72.6 per barrel in 2025 (down from $77.5 we forecast three months ago) and $71.5 in 2026."The extension of oil output cuts by the Opec+ group prolongs the drag from the energy sectors on GCC growth, but it expects oil activities would rebound "strongly" in 2025, with growth of 4.2%.Stressing that the GCC's projected 4% growth in 2025 highlights the success of the region’s diversification efforts amid global challenges; Scott Livermore, ICAEW economic adviser, and chief economist and managing director, Oxford Economics Middle East, said as the region continues to expand its tourism, real estate and financial sectors; managing capacity constraints in these high-growth sectors, as well as navigating global uncertainties, will be key to sustaining momentum and long-term economic stability.”Regional PMIs (purchasing managers’ index) remain firmly in expansionary territory, supporting its positive outlook for the GCC non-energy sectors, which look on track for a 4% expansion this year and next, according to the report.Fiscal revenue performance has been impaired by ongoing oil production cuts and lower oil prices but should stabilise in 2025, it said, adding meanwhile, government spending will likely rise only modestly next year."Overall, this will result in the aggregate GCC budget position remaining in a small surplus, thanks to ongoing surpluses in Qatar and the UAE," it said.The ICAEW has raised the aggregate GCC inflation projection slightly to 1.8% this year (1.7% before) and 2.3% in 2025 (up 0.2pp on three months ago).Recent readings show inflation is below 1% in Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, while it slowed to a four-year low of 2.4% in Kuwait.The GCC central banks will follow the rate path of the US Federal Reserve given the exchange rate pegs against the US dollar, it said.Following 75bps (basis points) in cumulative rate cuts in September and November, its baseline forecast assumes a 25bps rate cut in December, but it has scaled back expectations for Fed easing next year and now forecast a total of 75bps (down from 100bps)."There is a risk that the (US) Fed could deliver even fewer rate cuts than what we assume in our updated baseline," it said.

Sustained growth in new business and total activity led Doha report solid improvement in business conditions in the non-energy private sector in November, according to the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).The 12-month outlook for activity remained stronger than the long-run survey trend as firms mentioned Qatar's attractiveness to international investment, said the QFC's purchasing managers index (PMI).The headline PMI -- a composite single-figure indicator of non-energy private sector performance -- edged up to 52.9 in November, from 52.8 in October, signalling stronger overall growth in business conditions in the non-energy private sector economy.The rise in the headline figure in the latest survey took it further above the long-run survey average of 52.3 (since April 2017).The rise in the PMI since October mainly reflected a faster increase in business activity, a survey-record increase in stocks of purchases and a softer improvement in suppliers' delivery times.The Qatar PMI indices, compiled from survey responses from a panel of around 450 private sector companies, covers the manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, and services sectors, reflecting the structure of the non-energy economy according to official national accounts data.Inflows of new business expanded for the eleventh month running, linked to improving market conditions, marketing efforts, and developing client relationships.Outstanding business decreased for the first time in three months as capacity was expanded."New business and output expanded further, while the labour market remained robust. Over the past three months, the Employment Index has registered the highest levels in the survey history," QFC Authority chief executive officer Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida.Demand for workers and efforts to retain experienced staff have been reflected in the survey data for wages, with the staff costs Index remaining higher than at any time prior to August, according to him.Qatar's non-energy private sector labour market remained very strong in November, it said, adding over the past three months employment has risen more quickly than at any other time in the survey history.This was accompanied by further strong wage inflation, with November's increase the third-fastest on record following on from September and October.Companies reported boosting salaries to retain experienced and skilled staff in a highly competitive market. Overall cost pressures remained strong but eased from October's four-year high.In contrast, prices charged for goods and services fell for the fourth consecutive month as firms sought to raise competitiveness.

Optimism in the region in view of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon helped Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) close this week in the positive with its key index gaining as much as 23 points, even as capitalisation was on the decline.The domestic institutions’ increased net buying interests lifted the 20-stock Qatar Index 0.22% this week which saw Al Mahhar Holding move the Qatar Financial Market Authority to shift its shares from the junior bourse to the main market.The telecom, industrials and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand this week which saw Masraf Al Rayan undergo rebranding as AlRayan Bank.The local retail investors were increasingly bullish this week which saw Qatar Electricity and Water sign a 25-year purchase agreement with Kahramaa for Facility E project.However, the foreign institutions were seen increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw Gulf Warehousing enter into pact with Saudi Offshore Fabrication Company for a Grade A. logistics facility in Ras Al Khair Industrial zone in Saudi Arabia.The Gulf funds were also increasingly bearish in the main bourse this week which saw Aamal Company begin negotiations with its partner Teleperformance for its stake in ECCO Gulf.The Gulf individual investors were increasingly net sellers in the main market this week which saw a Kamco Invest report that found Qatar’s banks report the fastest net interest income growth in third quarter of 2024.The Arab retail investors were also seen increasingly net profit takers in the main bourse this week which saw Milaha team up with Google Cloud for enhancing data and artificial intelligence capabilities.The foreign individuals were seen net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 1,720 AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QATR worth QR3,823 trade across three deals.The Arab funds had no major net exposure in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.1mn change hands across eight transactions.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the main barometer in the main market this week which saw the banks and industrials sectors together constitute more than 63% of the total trade volumes.Market capitalisation however was down QR0.16bn or 0.03% to QR617.16bn on the back of microcap segments this week, which saw no trading of treasury bills.Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the main market, whereas it fell in the junior bourse this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.22%, the All Share Index by 0.12% and the All Islamic Index by 0.15% this week.The telecom sector index gained 1.26%, industrials (0.46%) and banks and financial services (0.38%); while real estate tanked 1.87%, transport (1.38%), consumer goods and services (0.63%) and insurance (0.46%) this week.Major gainers in the main bourse included Beema, Qatari Investors Group, AlRayan Bank, Ooredoo, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Commercial Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, Doha Insurance and Qatar Islamic Insurance. In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value this week.Nevertheless, as much as 67% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Ezdan, Widam Food, Dlala, Dukhan Bank, Barwa, Qatar German Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Mannai Corporation and Milaha. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.The domestic funds’ net buying rose substantially to QR185.63mn compared to QR80.11mn the week ended November 21.The local retail investors’ net buying increased significantly to QR32.88mn against QR11.24mn the previous week.However, the foreign institutions’ net profit booking expanded drastically to QR134.58mn compared to QR73.29mn a week ago.The Gulf institutions’ net selling shot up considerably to QR67.17mn against QR12.06mn the week ended November 21.The Gulf individuals’ net profit booking grew noticeably to QR12.62mn compared to QR7.2mn the previous week.The Arab individual investors’ net selling increased perceptibly to QR4.02mn against QR3.53mn a week ago.The foreign individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.13mn compared with net buyers of QR4.72mn the week ended November 21.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net profit takers to the extent of QR0.02mn the previous week.The main market witnessed an 8% jump in trade volumes to 597.44mn shares, 41% in value to QR2.03bn and 6% in deals to 61,189 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes plummeted 83% to 0.7mn equities, value by 84% to QR1.84mn and transactions by 61% to 132.

Ahead of the cruise season, Qatar saw a robust double-digit year-on-year growth in tourist inflow - especially from the Gulf, Europe and the Americas - this September; as its hospitality sector saw improved room yield, particularly in five-star hotels and deluxe hotel apartments, according to the official estimates.The buoyancy in the hospitality sector came amidst 314,597 visitor arrivals in September 2024 with those coming by land reporting the fastest growth. On a yearly basis, the total visitors rose 27.3% year-on-year but fell 4.1% month-on-month in the review period.The visitors from the Gulf Co-operation Council or GCC were 121,427 or 39% of the total, other Asia (including Oceania) 79,112 (25%), Europe 58,546 (19%), other Arab countries 25,334 (8%), Americas 22,644 (7%) and other African countries 7,534 (2%) in September 2024.On an annualised basis, the visitor arrivals from the GCC reported the fastest growth at 43.3%, followed by Europe at 32.1%, the Americas at 27.5%, other Arab countries at 22.3%, other African countries at 12.8% and other Asia (including Oceania) at 8.5% in the review period.On a month-on-month basis, the visitor arrivals from the Americas declined 19.8%, Europe by 17.1%, the GCC by 8.9% and other African countries by 7.3%; whereas those from other Asia (including Oceania) rose 20.5% and other Arab countries by 14.3% in September 2024.Of the total tourists inflow, those coming by air was 202,533, reporting an annual growth of 19.14%; land 110,304 (45.84%) and sea 1,760 (17.33%) in the review period.Visitor arrivals measures non-residents travelling to Qatar on a short-term basis. It includes arrival at border under 15 different visit visa classes, including all business and leisure visa types (excluding work visas).Qatar's hospitality sector saw a 17.39% year-on-year increase in revenue-per-available room to QR243 as occupancy improved by 5% to 63% and the average room rate by 6.39% to QR383 in September 2024.The five-star hotels' room yield shot up 16.73% year-on-year to QR307 with occupancy rising by 6% to 57% and the average room rate by 4.88% to QR537 in the review period.The four-star hotels saw revenue per available room jump 6.45% to QR132 as occupancy grew 7% to 64%; even as average room rate shrank 6.36% to QR206 in September 2024.The three-star hotels' average room rate was seen flat year-on-year at QR166 but room yield was up 4.72% to QR133 as occupancy improved 4% to 80% in the review period.The two-star and one-star hotels saw their revenue-per-available room decline 8.89% on an annualised basis to QR123 as occupancy fell 11% to 84% despite 2.82% jump in average room rate to QR146 in September 2024.The deluxe hotel apartments registered a 26.42% year-on-year surge in room yield to QR244 with occupancy growing 10% to 72% and the average room rate by 9.35% to QR339 in the review period.In the case of standard hotel apartments, occupancy tanked 19% year-on-year to 58% and the average room rate by 1.36% to QR218, plummeting revenue-per-available room by 26.32% to QR126 in September 2024.

An across the board profit booking pressure on Wednesday dragged the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) more than 46 points and its key index settled below 10,400 levels.The Gulf institutions were seen increasingly into net selling as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.45% to 10,361.45 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,426 points.The foreign institutions were also seen increasingly bearish in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR3.45bn or 0.56% to QR613.655bn primarily on the back of small and microcap segments.The Arab individuals’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main market, which saw as many as 1,500 ETFs or the exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank), valued at QR0.01mn change hands across two deals.The telecom, transport and consumer goods counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main bourse, which saw as much as 72% of the traded constituents in the red.However, the domestic funds were seen increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local retail investors turned bullish in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index shed 0.45%, the All Islamic Index by 0.38% and the All Share Index by 0.48% in the main market.The telecom sector index tanked 1.12%, transport (1.04%), consumer goods and services (0.61%), industrials (0.49%), realty (0.48%), banks and financial services (0.33%) and insurance (0.16%).Major losers in the main bourse included Aamal Company, Inma Holding, Qatar Oman Investment, Ooredoo, Al Faleh Educational Holding, QNB, Woqod, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Milaha and Nakilat. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Meeza, Qatari Investors Group, Commercial Bank, AlRayan Bank and Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance were among the gainers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking increased substantially to QR30.12mn compared to QR9.45mn on November 26.The foreign institutions’ net selling expanded drastically to QR19.59mn against QR7.84mn the previous day.The Arab retail investors’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR1.54mn compared to QR3.25mn on Tuesday.However, the domestic institutions’ net buying strengthened noticeably to QR31.38mn against QR22.8mn on November 26.The Qatari individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR11.54mn compared with net sellers of QR3.02mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR6.07mn against net sellers of QR1.28mn on Tuesday.The Gulf individual investors’ net selling declined markedly to QR0.8mn compared to QR4.45mn on November 26.The Arab institutions had not major net exposure for the eighth straight session.Trade volumes in the main market shot up 8% to 97.06mn shares, value by 32% to QR317.69mn and transactions by 35% to 12,631.In the venture market, trade volumes more than doubled to 0.16mn equities and value also more than doubled to QR0.42mn on 84% jump in deals to 35.(Ends)

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Sunday opened the week on a bullish note, albeit at lower levels, with its key index gaining more than 15 points on buying interests especially in the telecom and banking sectors.The foreign institutions were seen net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.14% to 10,409.59 points, but recovering from an intraday low of 10,441 points.The Gulf institutions’ weakened net profit booking had its influence in the main bourse, whose capitalisation was up QR0.68bn or 0.11% to QR618bn primarily on the back of microcap segments.The domestic funds continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 5,600 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Doha Bank) valued at QR0.06mn change hands across four deals.The Islamic index was seen declining vis-à-vis gains in the other indices of the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The foreign retail investors continued to be bullish but with lesser vigour in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Gulf individuals were seen increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index was up 0.14% and the All Share Index by 0.15%, while the All Islamic Index was down 0.01% in the main market.The telecom sector index gained 0.96%, banks and financial services (0.26%), insurance (0.15%) and industrials (0.07%); while real estate declined 0.48%, consumer goods and services (0.37%) and transport (0.15%).Major gainers in the main bourse included Qatari Investors Group, Doha Insurance, Ooredoo, Beema and Ahlibank Qatar. In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, about 57% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market with major losers being Dlala, Ezdan, Meeza, QIIB and Milaha. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR6.04mn compared with net sellers of QR32.19mn on November 21.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking decreased noticeably to QR6.86mn against QR8.59mn the previous trading day.However, the Gulf individual investors’ net selling grew markedly to QR4.87mn compared to QR0.95mn last Thursday.The Qatari individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR1.26mn against net buyers of QR11.04mn on November 21.The Arab individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.94mn compared with net buyers of QR2.63mn the previous trading day.The domestic institutions’ net buying declined substantially to QR6.85mn against QR25.81mn last Thursday.The foreign retail investors’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR1.05mn compared to QR2.23mn on November 21.The Arab institutions had not major net exposure for the fifth straight session.Trade volumes in the main market shrank 23% to 99.8mn shares, value by 40% to QR224.47mn and transactions by 45% to 8,501.The venture market saw 78% shrinkage in trade volumes to 0.12mn equities, 76% in value to QR0.34mn and 59% in deals to 32.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) witnessed an across the board selling, leading to a more than 60 points decline in the key index and more than QR2bn in capitalisation this week.The Gulf individuals were seen net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.58% this week which saw Al Mahhar Holding shareholders approve the board’s proposal to shift it to the main market from the junior bourse.The Arab retail investors turned net sellers this week which saw global credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s forecast Qatar's average debt-servicing costs to be below 5% of general government revenues by 2027, aided by debt reduction strategies and higher expected earnings related to the North Field Expansion,The industrials, telecom, insurance and consumer goods and services sectors witnessed higher than average selling pressure this week which saw the United Nations Development Programme join hands with the Ooredoo Group to establish a comprehensive policy framework to accelerate digital transformation across the Arab region.The foreign institutions continued to be bearish but with lesser intensity in the main market this week which saw Mekdam Holding bag QR71.5mn project from QatarEnergy.The Gulf funds also continued to be bearish but with lesser vigour in the main bourse this week which saw Standard and Poor’s affirm Commercial Bank’s rating at ‘A-/A-2’ with stable outlook.The domestic institutions’ substantially weakened net buying had its influence in the main market this week which saw Techno Q bag two major projects in Saudi Arabia.The local retail investors’ lower net buying had its say in the main bourse this week which saw Qatar reiterate its commitment to develop digital ecosystem.The foreign individuals were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.18mn Masraf Al Rayan-sponsored exchange-traded fund QATR worth QR0.39mn trade across 37 deals.The Arab funds’ net selling was seen weakening in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.05mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.55mn change hands across 33 transactions.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the main market this week which saw the real estate and industrials sectors together constitute about 53% of the total trade volumes.Market capitalisation melted 0.35% to QR617.32bn on the back of small and microcap segments this week, which saw no trading of treasury bills.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease in the main market, whereas it showed expansion in the junior bourse this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index shed 0.58%, the All Share Index by 0.49% and the All Islamic Index by 0.73% this week.The industrials sector index tanked 1.08%, telecom (0.99%), insurance (0.93%), consumer goods and services (0.74%), transport (0.49%), banks and financial services (0.17%) and real estate (0.16%) this week.Major losers in the main bourse included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Aamal Company, Beema, Widam Food, Al Khaleej Takaful, Qatar Islamic Bank, Alijarah Holding, Dlala, Salam International Investment, Woqod, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar Electricity and Water, Industries Qatar, Estithmar Holding, Mazaya Qatar, Ooredoo and Gulf Warehousing. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.Nevertheless, Ezdan, QIIB, QLM, Medicare Group and Qatari Investors Group were among the gainers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value this week.The Gulf individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR7.2mn compared with net buyers of QR3.03mn the week ended November 14.The Arab retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR3.53mn against net buyers of QR10.35mn the previous week.The domestic institutions’ net buying weakened substantially to QR80.11mn compared to QR191.34mn a week ago.The local retail investors’ net buying declined significantly to QR11.24mn against QR47.45mn the week ended November 14.However, the foreign individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR4.72mn compared with net sellers of QR0.55mn the previous week.The foreign institutions’ net profit booking shrank drastically to QR73.29mn against QR200.48mn a week ago.The Gulf institutions’ net selling decreased considerably to QR12.06mn compared to QR51.1mn the week ended November 14.The Arab institutions’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR0.02mn against QR0.03mn the previous week.The main market witnessed a 22% contraction in trade volumes to 552.73mn shares, 28% in value to QR1.45bn and 24% in deals to 57,955 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes gained 17% to 4.58mn equities, value by 22% to QR11.59mn and transactions by 9% to 337.

The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday closed 43 points lower on selling pressure especially at the insurance, telecom and banks.The foreign institutions were seen net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.42% to 10,394.32 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,465 points.As much as 63% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR1.77bn or 0.29% to QR617.32bn primarily on the back of microcap segments.The Gulf funds were seen increasingly into net profit booking in the main market, which saw as many as 0.15mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.71mn change hands across 47 deals.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer of the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.The Gulf retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the domestic institutions were seen increasingly bullish in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index lost 0.42%, the All Islamic Index by 0.41% and the All Share Index by 0.37% in the main market.The insurance sector index shed 0.93%, telecom (0.74%), banks and financial services (0.45%), industrials (0.38%) and consumer goods and services (0.02%); while real estate and transport gained 0.31% and 0.07% respectively.Major shakers in the main bourse included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Islamic Bank, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Inma Holding, Ooredoo, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qamco and Ooredoo.In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatari Investors Group, Doha Bank, Meeza, Medicare Group, United Development Company and Ezdan were among the gainers in the main market.The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR32.19mn compared with net buyers of QR1.5mn on November 20.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking increased noticeably to QR8.59mn against QR1.42mn the previous day.The Gulf individual investors’ net selling expanded marginally to QR0.95mn compared to QR0.4mn on Wednesday.However, the domestic institutions’ net buying grew substantially to QR25.81mn against QR3.5mn on November 20.The Qatari individuals’ net buying strengthened considerably to QR11.04mn compared to QR2.69mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR2.63mn against net sellers of QR1.56mn on Wednesday.The foreign retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.23mn compared with net sellers of QR4.21mn on November 20.The Arab institutions had not major net exposure for the fourth straight session.Trade volumes in the main market shot up 18% to 130.36mn shares, value by 25% to QR371.4mn and transactions by 37% to 15,478.The venture market saw a 41% shrinkage in trade volumes to 0.55mn equities and 41% in value to QR1.44mn but on flat deals at 79.

Qatar, which has earmarked QR9bn to achieve digital transformation, on Wednesday reiterated its unwavering commitment to develop a digital ecosystem and said it is developing a specialised programme to encourage foreign direct investment in the sector.Addressing the Digital Ecosystem Conference, organised by Ooredoo Group, HE the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed bin Ali al-Mannai said the (specialised) programme focuses on facilitating the necessary procedures to support emerging technology companies and providing incentives that contribute to attracting global investors.Highlighting that the legislative and regulatory system is being constantly developed in Qatar, he said the secure data law will be issued soon, which represents a new addition to enhance the regulatory and legislative environment.Through these efforts, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) seeks to open new horizons for economic growth, ensure the comprehensiveness of the digital system, and enhance the competitive position of Qatar at the international level, he told the conference, themed "Legislation and Regulation to Drive a Successful Digital Economy."Highlighting that Qatar has allocated QR9bn ($2.5bn) for digital transformation programmes through investment in emerging technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI), al-Mannai said these investments are the foundation on which Qatar builds its digital future.The Digital Agenda 2030 is at the heart of this transformation, he said, adding it is a roadmap to accelerate digital transformation in Qatar, a strategy to build a knowledge-based economy, reduce dependence on oil resources, and enhance the country's position in the field of innovation.He said the country's journey in the digital transformation is not limited to adopting new technologies but focusing on creating a digital environment where new companies can grow.Ooredoo Group chief executive officer Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo said emerging technologies and their many applications are advancing at such a rapid rate that the old model, where authorities create rules and sector participants follow them, just isn't enough anymore."Instead, we need a collaborative framework and an ecosystem where different participants and stakeholders approach policymaking and regulatory intervention together," he said, adding as sector participants, Ooredoo understands these technologies, their commercial potential and the risk that they may bring.Working closely with regulators is essential for creating an environment that encourages investment while ensuring public safety, trust, and fair competition, according to him."A key message I want to share today is that it's not emerging technologies themselves that necessarily need regulating. Its specific use case they enable," he said.Highlighting that in a world where the industries are intertwined and work in partnership, Fakhroo said Ooredoo Group is now regulated by many stakeholders as the telecom regulator, the central bank and financial oversight authorities."How do these different stakeholders collaborate together to create a proper environment for investment and innovation is the key," he said.

The legal system in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) is all set to see drastic positive changes over the next decade in view of the increasing use and innovation of AI (artificial intelligence), according to a senior official of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC)."Over the next five to ten years, I expect there will be significant and positive changes in the legal sector in the GCC as a result of greater use and innovation using Al," Umar Azmeh, Registrar of QICDRC, said in an article in Lexis Middle East Law Alert, which was distributed at the Digital Ecosystem conference, organised by Ooredoo Group.Within the courts, the main opportunities, according to him, will come from the significant savings in time and resources, which will be important as generally courts are public bodies with finite resources."In addition, the Al innovations we are already starting to see will make case management processes easier and more efficient - resulting in greater access to justices," he said.There is also the potential for a greater use of Al decision making tools by lawyers at the pre-litigation stage but also potentially in the future by judges, he said.Expecting Al tools to be used as decision making aids by judges, rather than a means of making automatic final decisions in cases; Azmeh said Al has the potential to become a very valuable tool for judges in the courts, as it could sift through large volumes of material to spot patterns judges could then interpret, improving the consistency of case decisions.Finding that with the public release of scaled large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, industries and sectors of all types across the world have been looking at ways in which they can harness and benefit from AI, he said: "In this respect, Middle East Courts, including the QICDRC in Qatar are no different."Within a court system, an Al system can either be internal facing or external facing, he said, adding internal Al systems can assist the court, court staff and judges with case progression and decision-making.In this regard, he said, Al can be used to scan and review case papers which are often long, made up of huge numbers of documents and can include complex data, in order, to provide summaries of complex financial data which identifies patterns, or they can be used to automate procedural tasks such as the acceptance and service of a case on behalf of a claimant, which helps make judicial procedures faster and cheaper, improving access to justice.The external facing Al in a court context is technology which assists court users, he said.It may be possible to put programmes in place that review the paperwork which has to be provided to the court to ensure the parties have fulfilled all the mandatory requirements when they file their case and reduce the risk of cases being rejected because of purely procedural mistakes, according to him."Since our first case in 2009, the QICDRC Courts have prided themselves with having a case management system that has a strong technological setup through which cases process and having an online hearing system which allows simultaneous translation so parties from all over the world can participate in cases being heard in our courts live on our website," Azmeh said.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joined hands with the Ooredoo Group to announce a joint initiative to establish a comprehensive policy framework to accelerate digital transformation across the Arab region.The initiative - which also engages the industry leader, Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM Association) as a technical partner - was launched at Ooredoo’s inaugural Digital Ecosystem conference.The initiative adopts a multi-phased approach, beginning with an evaluation of existing digital regulatory frameworks and adapting them to meet the distinct needs of the Arab region.The Phase 1 will identify global best practices and develop assessment criteria to benchmark each country’s digital policy context. The framework will initially be piloted in a selected country, setting a model for regional adoption.The UNDP’s regional bureau for Arab states and the Ooredoo Group will further explore developing additional collaborative regional projects under this initiative.This initiative not only responds to the urgent need for cohesive digital regulations and policies that support sustainable economic growth but also propose a policy and regulatory framework that fosters investment, reduce transactional friction, and support cross-border innovation; thus enhancing digital readiness in Arab countries and helping them seize opportunities within a rapidly expanding digital economy.“In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cohesive policies are essential for fostering inclusive economic growth and resilience,” said Sussanne Dam Hanse, deputy director, Amman Regional Hub, UNDP.The partnership marks an important contribution to unlocking the vast potential of the digital economy across the region, she said, adding by creating a unified digital policy framework, the initiative is fostering an environment where innovation can thrive, the digital divides bridged, and sustainable development is within reach for all.The framework will be developed with the expertise of leading organizations and will serve as a guide for policymakers to create regulatory contexts conducive of private sector investments and sustainable digital growth.Without supportive, harmonised policies, the full potential of digital economies remains untapped,” Hilal Mohammed al-Khulaifi, Chief Legal Regulatory and Corporate Governance Officer, Ooredoo, said.Highlighting that the initiative is a decisive step toward creating a unified digital policy framework tailored to the region’s unique landscape; he said: "Our collaboration with UNDP and GSMA brings together unparalleled expertise, marking a landmark step toward creating a digital ecosystem that fosters sustainable progress across Middle East and North Africa region.”

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Tuesday declined more than 28 points on selling pressure especially in the telecom and real estate sectors.The foreign institutions were seen increasingly into net selling as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.27% to 10,425.3 points, although it reached an intraday high of 10,461 points.As much as 72% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR2.19bn or 0.35% to QR617.39bn primarily on the back of mid and microcap segments.The Arab individuals were increasingly net profit takers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.03mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.08mn change hands across seven deals.The Islamic index was seen declining faster the other indices of the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease.The foreign retail investors turned bearish in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The domestic institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index lost 0.27%, the All Islamic Index by 0.28% and the All Share Index by 0.25% in the main market.The telecom sector index tanked 1.43%, realty (0.59%), banks and financial services (0.25%), consumer goods and services (0.25%), transport (0.2%) and industrials (0.03%); while insurance gained 0.29%.Major shakers in the main bourse included Ooredoo, Ezdan, Salam International Investment, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Barwa and Mazaya Qatar. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Inma Holding, Estithmar Holding, Qatar Insurance and Qamco were among the gainers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.The foreign institutions’ net profit booking increased noticeably to QR13.37mn compared to QR8.81mn on November 18.The Arab individual investors’ net selling expanded markedly to QR7.29mn against QR0.64mn the previous day.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking grew notably to QR2.06mn compared to QR0.53mn on Monday.The foreign retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.57mn against net buyers of QR2.46mn on November 18.The domestic institutions’ net buying decreased substantially to QR12.85mn compared to QR24.02mn the previous day.However, the Qatari individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR12.46mn against net sellers of QR12.77mn on Monday.The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking weakened perceptibly to QR2.05mn compared to QR3.75mn on November 18.The Arab institutions had not major net exposure for the second straight session.Trade volumes in the main market were down 1% to 107.71mn shares, value by 16% to QR257.22mn and transactions by 23% to 10,184.In the venture market, trade volumes shot up 36-fold to 2.88mn equities and value by almost 34-fold to QR7.19mn on more than seven-fold jump in deals to 124.