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The Qatar Stock Exchange closed flat Wednesday despite buying interests in four of the seven sectors.The domestic funds were increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index was down mere 0.04% to 10,829.86 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,858 points.The Arab individuals were seen net buyers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved further to 2.49%.More than 48% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation was flat at QR639.44bn.The local retail investors continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.03mn trade across one deal.The foreign institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Arab individuals’ lower net buying had its effect on the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index was down 0.04%, the All Share Index by 0.03% and the All Islamic Index by 0.01% in the main market.The transport sector index shed 0.82%, telecom (0.28%) and industrials (0.21%); while insurance gained 0.53%, real estate (0.14%), banks and financial services (0.13%) and consumer goods and services (0.07%).Major losers in the main market included Mannai Corporation, Milaha, Meeza, Vodafone Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatar National Cement, Mazaya Qatar, Gulf Warehousing and Nakilat.Nevertheless, Ezdan, Beema, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Dukhan Bank and Qatar Oman Investment were among the gainers in the main bourse.In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.The domestic institutions’ net selling increased significantly to QR12.62mn compared to QR0.06mn on July 8.The foreign retail investors were net sellers to the tune of QR1.61mn against net buyers of QR0.4mn on Tuesday.The foreign institutions’ net buying decreased markedly to QR18.9mn compared to QR29.19mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors’ net buying shrank perceptibly to QR1.41mn against QR4.55mn on July 8.However, the Gulf retail investors turned net buyers to the extent of QR0.83mn compared with net sellers of QR1.98mn on Tuesday.The Qatari individuals’ net selling weakened considerably to QR1.29mn against QR25.29mn the previous day.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR5.62mn compared to QR6.75mn on July 8.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net sellers to the tune of QR0.07mn on Tuesday.The main market saw a 24% contraction in trade volumes to 110.78mn shares, 26% in value to QR320.34mn and 43% in deals to 14,943.In the venture market, a total of 0.03mn equities valued at QR0.08mn changed hands across 15 transactions.

Market Eye The Qatar Stock Exchange on Tuesday gained about 33 points despite a mixed response in the regional bourses due to uncertainties around the US tariff policies. Buying interests, especially in the industrials and consumer goods sectors, led the 20-stock Qatar Index to gain 0.3% to 10,833.87 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,850 points. The Arab individuals were seen net buyers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved further to 2.49%. More than 47% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR1.06bn or 0.17% to QR639.47bn mainly on account of microcap segments. The foreign retail investors turned bullish, albeit at lower levels, in the main market, which saw 0.06mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.13mn trade across six deals. The local individuals’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise. The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the main barometer of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Gulf institutions’ lower net profit booking had its effect on the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index rose 0.3%, the All Share Index by 0.21% and the All Islamic Index by 0.23% in the main market. The industrials sector index gained 0.69%, consumer goods and services (0.32%), banks and financial services (0.28%) and transport (0.12%); while telecom declined 1.39% and insurance 0.86%. The real estate index was rather unchanged. Major movers in the main market include Mannai Corporation, Qamco, Qatar Islamic Bank, Gulf International Services, Medicare Group, Industries Qatar and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value. Nevertheless, Ooredoo, Qatar Insurance, Meeza, Inma Holding and Zad Holding were among the shakers in the main market. The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR4.55mn compared with net sellers of QR3.42mn on Monday. The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR0.4mn against net profit takers of QR2.22mn the previous day. The Qatari individual investors’ net selling weakened noticeably to QR25.29mn compared to QR31.19mn on July 7. The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking declined markedly to QR6.75mn against QR14.73mn on Monday. The Arab institutions’ net selling eased marginally to QR0.07mn compared to QR0.12mn the previous day. However, the domestic institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.06mn against net buyers of QR11.3mn on July 7. The Gulf individual investors were net sellers to the extent of QR1.98mn compared with net buyers of QR1.26mn on Monday. The foreign institutions’ net buying decreased significantly to QR29.19mn against QR39.12mn the previous day. The main market saw a 10% jump in trade volumes to 144.95mn shares, 11% in value to QR430.75mn and 22% in deals to 26,226. In the venture market, a total of 0.16mn equities valued at QR0.44mn changed hands across 37 transactions.

Market Eye Positive signals from the US on tariff front had its ripple effect on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which on Monday crossed the 10,800 levels, on the back of strong buying interests of foreign institutions. The telecom, insurance and industrials counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.46% to 10,801.67 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,754 points. The domestic institutions were seen net buyers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved to 2.18%. More than 60% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR2.53bn or 0.4% to QR638.41bn mainly on account of small cap segments. The Gulf retail investors turned bullish in the main market, which saw 0.05mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.13mn trade across 12 deals. However, the Gulf individuals were profit takers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise. The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Gulf institutions turned bearish in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index rose 0.46%, the All Share Index by 0.33% and the All Islamic Index by 0.48% in the main market. The telecom sector index shot up 1%, insurance (0.62%), industrials (0.61%), banks and financial services (0.38%), real estate (0.21%) and consumer goods and services (0.1%); while transport declined 0.36%. Major movers in the main market include Mannai Corporation, Qatar Electricity and Water, QIIB, Ooredoo, Gulf International Services, Commercial Bank, Industries Qatar and QLM. Nevertheless, Zad Holding, Meeza, Nakilat, Medicare Group, Qatar Oman Investment and Salam International Investment were among the shakers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value. The foreign institutions’ net buying increased significantly to QR39.12mn compared to QR12.34mn the previous day. The domestic institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR11.3mn against net sellers of QR27.333mn on July 6. The Gulf individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR1.26mn compared with net sellers of QR0.18mn on Sunday. However, the Qatari individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR31.19mn against net buyers of QR7.09mn the previous day. The Gulf institutions were net profit takers to the extent of QR14.73mn compared with net buyers of QR3.17mn on July 6. The Arab individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR3.42mn against net buyers of QR5.44mn on Sunday. The foreign retail investors’ net selling expanded perceptibly to QR2.22mn compared to QR0.44mn the previous day. The Arab institutions’ net profit booking strengthened marginally to QR0.12mn against QR0.02mn on July 6. The main market saw 30% jump in trade volumes to 132.27n shares and 46% in value to QR386.6mn on more than doubled deals to 21,579. In the venture market, a total of 0.07mn equities valued at QR0.2mn changed hands across 21 transactions.

Qatar appears to have gained traction in the international trade as transshipment through its Hamad Port constituted about 50% of the total container volumes during the first half (H1) of this year, according to the official data.The country’s maritime sector witnessed a robust double-digit year-on-year growth in transshipment in H1-2025, with more international shipping liners calling on the ports, indicating the growing prominence of the country in the global trade.The country's ports' performance recorded an 11% increase in transshipment volumes over the past six months compared to the same period last year. This include approximately 368,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) transshipped through Hamad Port, which has rapidly evolved into a critical hub for international shipping, catering to the needs of all major global shipping lines.Total containers handled by three ports - Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais - stood at 742,789 TEUs; implying transshipment volumes accounted for about 50% of total container traffic.Hamad Port, Qatar’s main gateway to world trade; plays a vital role in maritime logistics and its robust capabilities, making it a preferred hub for international shipping companies.The container terminals have been designed to address the increasing trade volume, enhance ease of doing business and support economic diversification, which is one of the most vital goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.The growth in global trade has involved greater quantities of containers in circulation, prompting shipping companies to rely more on transshipment hubs to connect different regions of the world. Transshipment requires significant yard space as containers are stored for a brief period, awaiting the connecting ship(s).The growth in transshipment was accompanied by a rise in the number of vessels, building materials and RORO (vehicles) through the three ports in January-June this year.The number of ships calling on Qatar's three ports registered 12.4% year-on-year growth to 1,487 in H1-2025. The maximum number of vessels docked was in May 2025.The building materials traffic through the three ports stood at 325,978 tonnes in January-June 2025, which shot up 42.09% on an annualised basis. The ports had witnessed maximum handling of building materials in May 2025.The three ports handled as many as 56,817 RORO in the first six months of this year, which registered a 1.56% growth year-on-year. The beginning of 2024 saw the maximum RORO handled so far through the three ports.Qatar's automobile sector has been witnessing stronger sales, especially in heavy equipment, private motorcycles and private vehicles, according to the latest data of the National Planning Council.RORO ships – which are designed to transport vehicles like cars, trucks, and motorcycles - feature ramps that allow vehicles to drive directly on and off, eliminating the need for cranes and making it an efficient way to move cargo across the seas.The general and bulk cargo handled through the three ports however fell 7.21% on an annualised basis to 810,220 freight tonnes in January-June 2025.

Market EyeThe Iran-Israel truce, the US Federal Reserve rate cut expectations and Washington’s tariff deal with Vietnam had their positive influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) with its key index gaining as much as 75 points and capitalisation adding in excess of QR4bn this week.The insurance, consumer goods, banking and industrials counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.7% this week which saw QSE welcome the proposed $200mn Fiera Qatar Equity Fund, a joint initiative of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Fiera Capital.More than 49% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main market this week which saw Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company restructure the ownership of Qatar Salt Products Company (QSalt), after the Turkish partner Atlas Yatirim Planlama exit the joint venture.The domestic institutions’ substantially weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse this week which saw Meeza sign a strategic long-term QR350mn agreement with a global hyper-scaler, marking a major milestone in its growth trajectory and further solidifying Qatar’s position in the global digital economy.The Gulf individuals’ lower net profit booking also had its effect on the main market this week which saw Qatar's maritime sector’s strong year-on-year surge in cargoes and building materials in June 2025.The foreign retail investors were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, this week which saw Qatar Insurance Company's $500mn Tier II bond gets oversubscribed by six times.The foreign institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser vigour in the main market this week which saw Lesha Bank acquire one Airbus A320neo aircraft from Germany's EMP Aviation Trading for approximately QR150mn.The local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.16mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.36mn trade across 61 deals.The Arab individuals continued to be bullish but with lesser intensity in the main market this week which saw 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.07mn change hands across 11 transactions.The Arab funds’ net buying was seen weakening in the main bourse this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw Wasata Financial Securities disclose its plans to provide market making support for Dukhan Bank.Market capitalisation shot up QR4.69bn or 0.74% to QR635.73bn on the back of mid and small cap segments this week which saw the consumer goods, banking and industrials sectors together constitute about 81% of the total trade volumes.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the main bourse; while the venture market saw heightened volume and value this week.The Total Return Index rose 0.7%, the All Islamic Index by 0.41% and the All Share Index by 0.82% this week.The insurance sector index shot up 2.48%, consumer goods and services (1.38%), banks and financial services (1.07%), and industrials (1.06%); real estate declined 1.25%, transport (0.66%) and telecom (0.48%) this week.Major gainers in the main market included Mannai Corporation, Meeza, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Insurance, Baladna, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Woqod, Mekdam Holding, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatar National Cement, Milaha and Gulf Warehousing. In the juniour bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value this week.Nevertheless, Qatar Cinema and Film, Distribution, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Al Mahhar Holding, Qatar German Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Medicare Group, Qamco, Estithmar Holding, QLM, Ezdan, Barwa, United Development Company, Vodafone Qatar and Nakilat were among the shakers in the main market this week.The foreign retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.32mn compared with net sellers of QR20.43mn the previous week.The domestic institutions’ net selling weakened significantly to QR11.38mn against QR634.55mn the week ended June 26.The Gulf individual investors’ net profit booking decreased markedly to QR7.02mn compared to QR14.42mn a week ago.However, the local retail investors’ net selling expanded noticeably to QR111.41mn against QR101.93mn the previous week.The foreign institutions’ net buying declined substantially to QR104.05mn compared to QR719.93mn the week ended June 26.The Arab individual investors’ net buying shrank drastically to QR16.18mn against QR40.65mn a week ago.The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR9.27mn compared to QR10.46mn the previous week.The Arab institutions’ net buying eased marginally to QR0.01mn against QR0.28mn the week ended June 26.The main market saw a 36% fall in trade volumes to 779.37mn shares, 36% in value to QR1.95bn and 17% in deals to 96,706 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes almost quadrupled to 1.26mn equities and value more than quadrupled to QR3.56mn on more than doubled transactions to 290.

Doha seeks to develop a pioneering ecosystem that expands open banking capabilities, supported by advanced frameworks and API (application programming interface) platforms, according to a Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) report.“This will enhance the regulatory environment and support digital banking, crowdfunding, and emerging technologies,” QFC said in its Islamic Finance Report.Highlighting that QNB launched its open banking platform in 2022; it said this platform, the first of its kind in Qatar and one of the first in the region, allows customers, partners, and fintechs to securely access the bank’s core systems, enabling a seamless banking experience.In May 2024, QNB expanded its open banking services to corporate clients, further enhancing its offerings. QNB’s partnership with Ooredoo on the Ooredoo Money service exemplifies successful open banking and fintech collaboration.Open banking is a financial services model that allows third-party service providers to access consumer data from traditional banking systems through APIs. Open banking has the potential to revolutionise the country’s financial services sector as it allows new entrants into the market, open up new opportunities for startups and fintechs.The QFC report said open banking can benefit Islamic banks by enabling personalised, Shariah-compliant financial products and fintech solutions, such as real-time Zakat calculation apps.By using APIs to aggregate financial data from multiple sources, Islamic banks can offer tailored Shariah-compliant investment portfolios, including products like sukuk and equity funds.This integration can enhance customer experience and financial inclusion, and drive innovation in Islamic financial products, it said.Open banking is rapidly transforming the financial landscape in the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) region. This trend involves financial institutions granting third-party providers access to consumer-banking transactions, and other financial data through APIs, according to the report.Open banking securely integrates a bank’s core financial services with its partners’, facilitating data sharing and payments between organisations.This integration enables the creation of new financial products and services, enhancing customer experience and fostering innovation the report said.Leveraging fintech partnerships and open banking initiatives will drive digital transformation and innovation in the Islamic banking sector going forward, while expanding sustainable Islamic banking offerings will support Qatar’s decarbonisation and just transition efforts, according to the report.Further advancing their digital transformation agendas, Islamic banks have begun integrating more advanced technologies such as AI or artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain into their operations.Banks in Qatar have begun to embrace open banking as a crucial initiative to enhance customer satisfaction. By launching open banking platforms, these institutions are providing an enhanced banking experience to their customers, as well as partners and emerging fintech players in Qatar, a PricewaterhouseCoopers study had said.

Market EyeAmidst apprehensions over the US' potential re-imposition of tariffs next week, the Qatar Stock Exchange treaded almost a flat path despite stronger buying interests in consumer goods, industrials and banking counters.The Gulf institutions were seen net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled mere 0.85 points higher at 10,699.24 points, but recovering from an intraday low of 10,662 points.The foreign individual investors were seen bullish in the main market, whose year-to-date gains rose marginally to 1.21%.The domestic institutions’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR0.8bn or 0.13% to QR632.87bn mainly on account of microcap segments.The local retail investors were seen net buyers in the main market, which saw 0.04mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.09mn trade across 11 deals.The Gulf individuals’ lower net profit booking had its effect on the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the main barometer of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Arab retail investors continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index was up 0.01%, the All Share Index by 0.07% and the All Islamic Index by 0.07% in the main market.The consumer goods and services sector index rose 1.12%, industrials (0.34%) and banks and financial services (0.22%); while transport declined 1.69%, insurance (0.66%), real estate (0.55%) and telecom (0.11%).Major movers in the main market included Meeza, Woqod, Qatar German Medical Devices, Ahlibank Qatar, Doha Insurance, Estithmar Holding and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding.Nevertheless, about 64% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Nakilat, Inma Holding, Baladna, Medicare Group, Gulf Warehousing, Doha Bank, Qatar Oman Investment, Widam Food, Al Faleh Educational Holding and Qatar Insurance.In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.7mn compared with net sellers of QR2.21mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR1.37mn against net sellers of QR0.41mn on July 1.The local individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.15mn compared with net sellers of QR7.56mn on Tuesday.The domestic institutions’ net selling weakened perceptibly to QR14.55mn against QR17.61mn the previous day.The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking declined noticeably to QR0.66mn compared to QR5.12mn on July 1.However, the foreign institutions’ net buying decreased significantly to QR4.84mn against QR23.29mn on Tuesday.The Arab individual investors’ net buying shrank markedly to QR5.15mn compared to QR9.62mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the third consecutive session.The main market saw a 24% jump in trade volumes to 143.72mn shares and 24% in value to QR381758mn but on 3% fall in deals to 18,379.In the venture market, a total of 8,842 equities valued at QR0.02mn changed hands across four transactions.

Qatar has laid out procedures for obtaining the commercial licence for cloud kitchens, a move that is seen to regulate the sector as well as to enhance innovation and support digital ventures in the food industry.The targets are restaurants seeking expansion without opening new branches; entrepreneurs and investors in the food sector; and delivery companies and food app providers, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) said in its social media handle X.The objectives are to regulate the operation of cloud kitchens within a licensed and secure business environment; ensure food safety and the quality of services provided to consumers; promote innovation and support digital ventures in the food sector; and support digital transformation and develop the infrastructure for logistics services.Cloud kitchens are establishments dedicated to preparing and marketing food exclusively through online platforms, without the need for dining areas or direct customer interaction. They represent a modern model within the food sector, enabling entrepreneurs to reduce operational costs and expand geographically with speed and efficiency by leveraging technology and delivery services.To obtain a licence for a cloud kitchen, investors must establish a company and obtain a commercial registration, which can be done through the single window devices portal. The commercial activity listed in both the registration and the licence must be related to food preparation or catering services, said the guidelines and requirements for cloud kitchen licensing, issued by MoCI.As per the procedures for processing commercial licences for sub-kitchens (within a cloud kitchen), the commercial registration is expected to be granted within one to two days. Along with commercial registration certificate, the establishment phase will see granting of tax identification number, establishment ID and Qatar Chamber member subscription.An application must be submitted for each internal kitchen through the single window services portal and payment of QR500 commercial license issuance fees.The MoCI’s guidelines “aims to regulate the process of issuing and granting licences for cloud kitchens within a clear legislative and procedural framework that supports the ease of establishing such facilities, while ensuring compliance with technical, health, and regulatory standards.”Through this guide, the commercial registration and licensing department seeks to streamline the digital business environment and provide a “unified reference” that facilitates procedures for investors and entrepreneurs, while maintaining the quality and safety of the food services provided. Additionally, the guide offers a comprehensive understanding of the requirements and regulatory controls, thereby helping to reduce procedural errors, improve the efficiency of licence issuance, and strengthen the competitiveness of the food sector in line with national digital transformation objectives.In addition to procedures and requirements, the MoCI guidelines have set out general and specific conditions that must be adhered to for the licensing and operation of cloud kitchens.The location must be appropriate for the type of kitchen (segmented or multi-brand); a valid building completion certificate for the site, along with approval from the relevant authority; mandatory compliance with safety and protection requirements, such as civil defence, fire prevention, and industrial ventilation; presence of separate water, electricity, and sewage networks that ensure no impact on public health; site must not be directly connected to permanent residential units or used for residential purposes; and the trade name and commercial registration number must be clearly displayed on the kitchen’s front facade.The specific requirements include approval from the Technical Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality; final approvals from Civil Defence and relevant health authorities; separation between preparation, cooking, storage, and packaging areas; secure entrance for delivery staff to prevent interaction with preparation areas; and adequate ventilation and facility for the smooth entry and exit of vehicles.

Qatar’s maritime sector witnessed a strong year-on-year surge in cargoes and building materials in June 2025; indicating the strength of the country’s non-hydrocarbon private sector, according to the official data.The general and bulk cargo handled through Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports amounted to 143,101 freight tonnes in June 2025, which shot up 151.35% year-on-year but fell 18.52% on monthly basis, said the figures released by Mwani Qatar.The container and cargo trends through the ports reflect the positive outlook for the country’s non-oil private sector, which has been projected to grow faster than the hydrocarbons, as per various estimates.In line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, Mwani Qatar continues to implement its ambitious strategy to enhance the maritime sector’s contribution to diversifying the national economy and strengthening the county’s position as a vibrant regional trade hub.The three ports together handled as much as 810,220 freight tonnes of general and bulk cargo in the first six months of this year.The building materials traffic through the three ports stood at 25,742 tonnes in June 2025, which zoomed 14.39% on an annualised basis but tanked 55.44% month-on-month. The three ports had reported a total of 325,978 tonnes of building materials handled in January-June this year.As many as 232 ships arrived in three ports, which reported 4.18% and 21.09% plunge year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. A total of 1,487 vessels call were reported through the three ports in January-June 2025.Hamad Port is Qatar’s main seaport, located south of Doha in the Umm Al Houl area and whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf.The container movement through three ports amounted to 133,461 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), shrinking 7.88% and 6.57% on annualised and monthly basis respectively in the review period. The three ports together handled as many as 742,789 TEUs in the first six months of this year.The container terminals have been designed to address the increasing trade volume, enhancing ease of doing business as well as supporting the achievement of economic diversification, which is one of the most important goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.The three ports were seen handling 15,229 livestock this June, which plummeted 74.24% and 81.06% on yearly and monthly basis respectively. The ports had cumulatively handled as many as 351,735 heads in the first six months of this year.The three ports handled as many as 9,883 RORO in June 2025, which registered 36.97% contraction year-on-year but soared 45.7% month-on-month. The ports had cumulatively handled a total of 56,817 units in January-June 2025.Qatar’s automobile sector has been witnessing stronger sales, notably in heavy equipment, private motorcycles and private vehicles, according to the data of the National Planning Council.

Market EyeAhead of a US Senate vote on President Donald Trump's landmark tax and spending bill, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) Tuesday remained under bearish spell for the second straight session as its key index fell more than 51 points and capitalisation melted in excess of QR3bn.The insurance, telecom, real estate and industrials counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.48% to 10,698.39 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,771 points.The domestic institutions turned net sellers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 1.2%.About 58% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR3.28bn or 0.52% to QR632.07bn mainly on account of small and microcap segments.The Gulf retail investors were seen bearish in the main market, which saw 2,748 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.03mn trade across five deals.The Gulf funds turned net profit takers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local retail investors continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index lost 0.48%, the All Share Index by 0.54% and the All Islamic Index by 0.64% in the main market.The insurance sector index tanked 2.41%, telecom (1.33%), realty (0.67%), industrials (0.65%), banks and financial services (0.47%), and consumer goods and services (0.29%); while transport gained 0.43%.Major shakers in the main bourse included Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Qatar Insurance, Ahlibank Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qatar Electricity and Water, Commercial Bank, AlRayan Bank, Woqod, Industries Qatar, Estithmar Holding, Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar.Nevertheless, Mannai Corporation, Mekdam Holding, Meeza, Al Mahhar Holding, Baladna and Nakilat were among the gainers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.The domestic funds turned net sellers to the tune of QR17.61mn compared with net buyers of QR33.06mn the previous day.The Gulf retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR5.12mn against net buyers of QR1.55mn on June 30.The Gulf institutions turned net profit takers to the tune of QR2.21mn compared with net buyers of QR16.17mn on Monday.However, the foreign institutions’ net buying increased significantly to QR23.29mn against QR4.99mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR9.62mn compared with net sellers of QR9.92mn on June 30.The local retail investors’ net profit booking decreased substantially to QR7.56mn against QR43.25mn on Monday.The foreign individual investors’ net selling weakened perceptibly to QR0.41mn compared to QR2.59mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second consecutive session.The main market saw 35% contraction in trade volumes to 115.46mn shares, 36% in value to QR307.18mn and 26% in deals to 18,968.In the venture market, a total of 0.21mn equities valued at QR0.58mn changed hands across 55 transactions.

Market EyeEnding six consecutive days of bullish run, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Monday fell more than 18 points on selling pressure especially in the consumer goods, transport and industrials sectors.The local retail investors were increasingly net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.17% to 10,749.48 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,799 points.The Arab individuals turned net sellers in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 1.69%.More than 71% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation shed QR1.31bn or 0.21% to QR635.35bn mainly on account of microcap segments.The foreign retail investors were seen bearish in the main market, which saw 0.04mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank) valued at QR0.09mn trade across seven deals.The foreign institutions’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes. The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. However, the domestic institutions were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index lost 0.17%, the All Share Index by 0.09% and the All Islamic Index by 0.16% in the main market.The consumer goods and services sector index declined 0.55%, transport (0.43%), industrials (0.32%), telecom (0.2%), banks and financial services (0.08%) and real estate (0.04%); while insurance gained 3.22%.Major shakers in the main market include Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Meeza, Medicare Group, Dlala, Qatar German Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Baladna, Industries Qatar, Ezdan and Mazaya Qatar. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar Insurance, Gulf Warehousing, Qatar Electricity and Water, Ahlibank Qatar, Al Mahhar Holding and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding were among the movers in the main market. The local retail investors’ net selling increased substantially to QR43.25mn compared to QR26.38mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR9.92mn against net buyers of QR6.98mn on June 29.The foreign retail investors were net profit takers to the extent of QR2.59mn compared with net buyers of QR1.19mn on Sunday.The foreign institutions’ net buying weakened significantly to QR4.99mn against QR25.15mn the previous day.However, the domestic funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR33.06mn compared with net sellers of QR3.56mn on June 29.The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR16.17mn against net profit takers of QR2.11mn on Sunday.The Gulf retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.55mn compared with net sellers of QR1.27mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the extent of QR0.08mn on June 29.The main market saw 2% fall in trade volumes to 178.83mn shares but on 19% jump in value to QR481.45mn and 77% in deals to 25,564. In the venture market, a total of 0.09mn equities valued at QR0.25mn changed hands across 32 transactions.

Market EyeThe Iran-Israel truce and the US rate cut expectations Sunday led the Qatar Stock Exchange to gain more than 83 points, with capitalisation gaining in excess of QR5bn.Bullish for the sixth straight session, the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.78% to 10,768.19 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,684 points.An across the board buying interests – notably in insurance, industrials and banks - was visible in the main market, whose year-to-date gains improved further to 1.86%.About 89% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR5.62bn or 0.89% to QR636.66bn mainly on account of mid and small cap segments.The Arab retail investors were seen increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw 0.05mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.13mn trade across 27 deals.The foreign individual investors turned bullish in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local retail investors’ weakened net profit booking had its influence on the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.78%, the All Share Index by 0.89% and the All Islamic Index by 0.72% in the main market.The insurance sector index shot up 2.7%, industrials (1.15%), banks and financial services (0.83%), consumer goods and services (0.78%), telecom (0.63%), transport (0.6%) and real estate (0.06%).Major movers in the main market included Mannai Corporation, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Insurance, Gulf Warehousing, Baladna, Lesha Bank, Medicare Group, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatar Electricity and Water and QLM.In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Al Mahhar Holding, Qatar German Medical Devices, Al Faleh Educational Holding and Ezdan were the shakers in the main market.The Arab individual investors’ net buying increased notably to QR6.98mn compared to QR1.5mn last Thursday.The foreign retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.19mn against net sellers of QR8.2mn the previous trading day.The Arab institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.08mn compared with no major net exposure on June 26.The local retail investors’ net selling decreased substantially to QR26.38mn against QR46.07mn last Thursday.The domestic funds’ net selling weakened drastically to QR3.56mn compared to QR21.15mn the previous trading day.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking shrank significantly to QR2.11mn against QR12.75mn on June 26.The Gulf retail investors’ net selling eased perceptibly to QR1.27mn compared to QR4.13mn last Thursday.However, the foreign institutions’ net buying weakened drastically to QR25.15mn against QR90.79mn the previous trading day.The main market saw a 6% fall in trade volumes to 182.76mn shares, 15% in value to QR404.07mn and 29% in deals to 14,455.In the venture market, a total of 0.92mn equities valued at QR2.62mn changed hands across 193 transactions.

The Iran-Israel truce had its profound impact on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which saw all of its constituents extend gains to investors, leading the main index vault 424 points and capitalisation add about QR26bn this week.The foreign institutions were seen increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index surged 4.13% this week which saw the Qatar Central Bank maintain status quo on interest rates after its assessment of the monetary policy.“The ceasefire (between Iran and Israel) had its impact in lifting the sentiments across the board. What is important is the sustainability of it,” an analyst with a leading brokerage house said.The Arab individuals were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw Moody’s, a global credit rating agency, affirm Doha Bank’s long-term counterparty risk rating at “A3” and deposit rating at “Baa1” with a “stable” outlook.The Gulf institutions turned bullish in the main market this week which saw Doha Bank enter the global debt market with its first euro-denominated syndicated facility for €500mn on highly attractive terms, demonstrating the continuing attraction to international institutional investors, including European.The Arab funds were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, this week which saw Commercial Bank issue a three-year tenor, QR500mn senior-unsecured bonds with a coupon of 4.90%.The domestic institutions were however seen increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw Fitch confirm the credit rating of Ahlibank Qatar at “A” with stable outlookThe local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.21mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.49mn trade across 59 deals.The foreign individuals were also increasingly net profit takers in the main market this week which saw as many as 2,291 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.02mn change hands across five transactions.The Gulf retail investors were increasingly bearish in the main bourse this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer of the main market this week, which saw Doha recorded as many as 54.02mn transactions valued at QR15.28bn through the country’s payment system in May 2025 with point-o-f-sales constituting a vast majority.Market capitalisation shot up QR25.63bn or 4.23% to QR631.04bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw the industrials and consumer goods sectors together constitute about 51% of the total trade volumes.Trade turnover was on the decline amidst higher volumes in the main bourse; while the venture market saw heightened volume and value this week.The Total Return Index zoomed 4.13%, the All Islamic Index by 4.06% and the All Share Index by 4.06% this week.The transport sector index zoomed 7.74%, telecom (7.5%), realty (6.31%), insurance (6.11%), consumer goods and services (3.59%), industrials (3.4%) and banks and financial services (3.23%) this week.Major gainers in the main bourse included Mannai Corporation, Widam Food, Qatar German Medical Devices, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, QIIB, AlRayan Bank, Industries Qatar, Aamal Company, Qatari Investors Group, Aamal Company, Qamco, Gulf International Services, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Barwa, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, Nakilat and Milaha. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value this week.The foreign institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR719.93mn compared to QR109.13mn the previous week.The Arab retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR40.65mn against net sellers of QR55.08mn the week ended June 19.The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR10.46mn compared with net sellers of QR15.25mn a week ago.The Arab institutions turned net buyers to the extent of QR0.28mn against no major net exposure the previous week.However, the domestic funds’ net selling strengthened significantly to QR634.55mn compared to QR28.14mn the week ended June 19.The local retail investors’ net profit booking expanded drastically to QR101.93mn against QR4.16mn a week ago.The foreign individual investors’ net selling surged perceptibly to QR20.43mn compared to QR6.45mn the previous week.The Gulf retail investors’ net profit booking increased markedly to QR14.42mn against QR0.04mn the week ended June 19.The main market saw 4% jump in trade volumes to 1.22bn shares but on 2% decline in value to QR3.02bn and 9% in deals to 116,232 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes more than doubled to 0.32mn equities and value more than doubled to QR0.88mn on tripled transactions to 123.

Qatar recorded as many as 54.02mn transactions valued at QR15.28bn through the country's payment system in May 2025 with point-of-sales constituting a vast majority, according to Qatar Central Bank (QCB) data.The point-of-sales constituted 56% of the payment system transaction, followed by e-commerce 26%, Fawran or instant payment system 17% and Qatar Mobile Payment at 1% in the review period, the QCB said in its social medial handle X.There were 42.74mn card transactions through point-of-sales, which enables merchants to process payments and log transactions, valued at QR8.55bn in the review period. The 0.45mn e-commerce transaction were valued at QR3.97bn in the review period. The point-of-sales and e-commerce together constituted QR12.52bn in May 2025.Fawran – a real-time payment service in Qatar, allowing users to send and receive money instantly and securely within the country – registered as many as 1.65mn transactions valued at QR2.59bn in the review period. There have been a total of 3.1mn total registered Fawran accounts.Fawran was launched in 2024 and system members are QNB, Commercial Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, Ahli Bank, Dukhan Bank, Doha Bank, QIIB and AlRayan Bank.Qatar Mobile Payment (QMP) – which allows immediate transfer of funds between registered customers through any registered payment service providers – saw as many as 189,000 transactions valued at QR181.97mn in May 2025. There has been a total of 1.34mn registered wallets.The QMP is a centralised payment system that was launched in 2020, to enable individuals and corporates to perform instant fund transfers between e-wallets within payment service providers in Qatar. The system members are QNB, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, Ahli Bank, QIIB, Arab Bank, HSBC Qatar, AlRayan Bank, Dukhan Bank, i-pay and Ooredoo Money.Qatar Payment System (QPS) is designed on the concept of real-time gross settlement (RTGS) and electronic straight through processing (e-STP). QPS is based on the SWIFT network and messages standards and utilises the SWIFT messages to reconcile and settle the local payments and securities ownership transfers.QPS is linked to the QCB clearing system, book-entry government securities system, and currency issuing application. All applications are driven by swift messages such as (MT202, MT203).Qatar's retail payment system comprise electronic cheque clearing system; national network system for ATMS and Points of Sales (NAPS); QMP; direct deposit and debit (QATCH); electronic payment gateway (QPay); wage protection system (WPS); and Fawran.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Wednesday gained about 112 points to cross the 10,600 levels and capitalisation added about QR7bn as foreign funds were found increasingly net buyers with Iran-Israel ceasefire lifting sentiments for the second straight session.The 20-stock Qatar Index rose 1.06% to 10,643.52 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,545 points.The transport, insurance, real estate and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main market, which saw 0.69% gains year-to-date.About 87% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR6.95bn or 1.12% to QR628.68bn mainly on account of large and midcap segments.The foreign retail investors’ weakened net selling had its influence on the main market, which saw as many as 0.06mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.14mn trade across 15 deals.The Gulf individual investors’ lower net profit booking had its effect 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 market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the domestic institutions were seen increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 1.06%, the All Share Index by 1.16% and the All Islamic Index by 0.73% in the main market.The transport sector index shot up 2.68%, insurance (1.65%), realty (1.36%), banks and financial services (1.32%), consumer goods and services (0.78%), telecom (0.35%) and industrials (0.3%).Major movers in the main market include Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Nakilat, Aamal Company, Qamco, QNB, AlRayan Bank, Estithmar Holding, United Development Company, Barwa and Milaha. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, Qatar German Medical Devices, Industries Qatar, Dukhan Bank, Medicare Group and Lesha Bank were among the shakers in the main market.The foreign institutions’ net buying strengthened substantially to QR589.32mn compared to QR23.18mn the previous day.The foreign individual investors’ net profit booking declined noticeably to QR1.2mn against QR4.87mn on June 24.The Gulf retail investors’ net selling weakened markedly to QR0.07mn compared to QR4.87mn on Tuesday.However, the domestic funds’ net selling expanded drastically to QR567.25mn against QR52.59mn the previous day.The local retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR38.28mn compared with net buyers of QR3.9mn on June 24.The Gulf institutions’ net buying declined substantially to QR5.62mn against QR21.3mn on Tuesday.The Arab individual investors’ net buying shrank considerably to QR6.85mn compared to QR17.44mn the previous day.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the extent of QR0.28mn on June 24.The main market saw 16% plunge in trade volumes to 277.77mn shares but on 50% surge in value to QR1.03bn and 8% in deals to 28,803.In the venture market, a total of 8,799 equities valued at QR0.02mn changed hands across four transactions.

Market Eye The ceasefire announcement between Iran and Israel had its positive impact on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which on Tuesday surged more than 199 points to surpass 10,500 levels with capitalisation adding in excess of QR11bn. The telecom, transport and real estate counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index shot up 1.93% to 10,536.87 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,579 points. The foreign institutions’ increased net buying had its influence on the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated to 0.37%. About 91% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR11.43bn or 1.87% to QR621.73bn mainly on account of large and midcap segments. The Gulf institutions were seen bullish in the main market, which saw as many as 8,031 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.04mn trade across six deals. The local retail investors turned net buyers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase. The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the main barometer of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Arab institutions turned net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index rose 1.98%, the All Share Index by 1.76% and the All Islamic Index by 1.88% in the main market. The telecom sector index shot up 3.02%, transport (2.92%), real estate (2.6%), banks and financial services (1.65%), industrials (1.47%), insurance (1.24%) and consumer goods and services (0.96%). Major movers in the main market include Widam Food, Qatar German Medical Devices, Lesha Bank, Ezdan, Inma Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank, Alijarah Holding, Salam International Investment, Medicare Group, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Baladna, Al Mahhar Holding, Aamal Company, Gulf International Services, Estithmar Holding, Qamco, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Barwa, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, Nakilat and Milaha. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value. Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Ahlibank Qatar, Al Meera and Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution were among the shakers in the main market. The foreign institutions’ net buying strengthened substantially to QR23.18mn compared to QR9.29mn the previous day. The Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR21.3mn against net profit takers of QR1.88mn on June 23. The Arab individual investors’ net buying increased perceptibly to QR17.44mn compared to QR13.28mn on Monday. The local retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR3.9mn against net sellers of QR2.22mn the previous day. The Arab institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.28mn compared with no major net exposure on June 23. However, the domestic funds’ net selling expanded considerably to QR52.59mn against QR20.15mn on Monday. The Gulf individual investors’ net profit booking rose markedly to QR4.87mn compared to QR1.72mn the previous day. The foreign retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR4.87mn against net buyers of QR3.4mn on June 23. The main market saw 46% surge in trade volumes to 329.37mn shares, 47% in value to QR687.97mn and 5% in deals to 26,645. In the venture market, a total of 0.05mn equities valued at QR0.13mn changed hands across 19 transactions.

Doha’s Islamic finance is undergoing a transformative phase, and blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) offer significant potential to enhance transparency, according to top official of Qatar Development Bank (QDB).“Qatar is well-positioned to lead globally in Islamic finance, setting benchmarks for innovation and sustainability in the $4.9tn Islamic finance industry,” QDB chief executive officer Abdulrahman Hesham al-Sowaidi said in a Qatar Financial Centre report.Highlighting that Islamic finance in Qatar is undergoing a transformative phase, driven by innovation; he said the third Financial Sector Strategy highlights Islamic finance as one of five cross-cutting themes on which we will focus on in the next five years.“A dedicated Islamic finance master strategy has been developed in this regard and is currently being implemented by all concerned stakeholders,” he said.The Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH) has been instrumental in fostering Islamic fintech evolution. Since its launch in 2020, the QFTH has supported more than 100 fintech startups, in alignment with the National Fintech Strategy.“Blockchain and AI offer significant potential to enhance transparency and efficiency in Shariah-compliant finance,” al-Sowaidi said, adding emerging platforms automate compliance, streamline Tawarruq, and scale Murabaha.However, robust regulations and ensuring Shariah adherence in new technologies are crucial, according to him.Collaborative efforts among stakeholders are essential to address these challenges, he added.“We are also keen on investing in leading international Islamic fintech platforms,” he said, citing through Startup Qatar, QDB recently invested in Wahed, a leading global halal investing platform.Wahed subsequently established its regional headquarters in Doha and aims to expand its operations within Qatar.“Looking ahead, we are prioritising digital transformation by integrating advanced digital solutions to enhance service delivery and accessibility,” according to al-Sowaidi.These initiatives reinforce QDB’s commitment to fostering a resilient, diversified economy, one that empowers business, drives exports, and leverages technology for long-term prosperity.Highlighting that QDB sees the coming years as a pivotal period to strengthen its role as an enabler and orchestrator of Qatar’s business ecosystem, he said its updated 2025-30 strategy is built upon the achievements of previous years, aligning seamlessly with the Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.Stressing that its core focus remains on customer-centric innovation; he said “we are reimagining our services to provide tailored, bundled solutions that are adapted to the evolving needs of entrepreneurs and support them at every stage of their journey.By refining and introducing new services, it aims to create a dynamic support system that fosters sustainable success for businesses in Qatar.“We are also deepening our strategic focus on priority clusters and intensifying co-ordination with ecosystem partners to drive greater impact,” he added.Specifically, QDB is enhancing support at the earliest stages of entrepreneurship, particularly in the pre-seed and seed phases, while also fostering joint investment in later stages, expanding guarantee programmes, and strengthening angel investment networks.“Islamic finance remains a cornerstone of Qatar’s economic landscape, deeply embedded in our national financial framework,” he said.

Market EyeThe domestic institutions’ strong buying interests on Sunday led the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) open the week on a stronger note with its key index gaining 19 points amidst weakened trading activities.The telecom, insurance, real estate, transport and industrials counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.19% to 10,280.2 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,380 points.The Arab individual investors turned net buyers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated to 2.75%.More than 73% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR1.39bn or 0.23% to QR606.8bn mainly on account of microcap segments.The foreign institutions continued to be bullish but with lesser intensity in the main market, which saw as many as 0.02mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.05mn trade across nine deals.The local retail investors were seen net profit takers in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The foreign individuals were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.19%, the All Share Index by 0.15% and the All Islamic Index by 0.44% in the main market.The telecom sector index shot up 2.31%, insurance (1.59%), realty (1.17%), transport (0.71%), industrials (0.4%) and consumer goods and services (0.16%); while banks and financial services fell 0.37%.Major movers in the main market include Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Widam Food, QLM, Medicare Group, Lesha Bank, Qatar German Medical Devices, Qamco, Gulf International Services, Barwa, Ezdan, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar and Nakilat.Nevertheless, Dlala, QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Mekdam Holding and Woqod were among the losers in the main bourse. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value.The domestic institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR26.59mn compared with net sellers of QR31.98mn on June 19.The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the extent of QR1.57mn against net sellers of QR19.91mn last Thursday.The Gulf institutions net selling weakened noticeably to QR1.83mn compared to QR13.5mn the previous trading day.However, the local retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR24.26mn against net buyers of QR14.9mn on June 19.The foreign individuals’ net profit booking strengthened substantially to QR9.56mn compared to QR1.04mn last Thursday.The foreign institutions’ net buying declined significantly to QR7.34mn against QR50.18mn the previous trading day.The Gulf individual investors’ net buying eased perceptibly to QR0.13mn compared to QR1.34mn on June 19.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the sixth consecutive day.The main market saw 31% plunge in trade volumes to 192.31mn shares, 67% in value to QR357.64mn and 32% in deals to 14,998.In the venture market, a total of 43,808 equities valued at QR0.11mn changed hands across 14 transactions.