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Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC) and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) College of Law, in collaboration with Lexis Nexis, held a successful event focused on the role of international commercial courts in resolving digital technology disputes.As part of the QICDRC-HBKU Lecture Series under a MoU, the event brought together legal experts, academics, and practitioners to discuss how international commercial courts manage digital disputes and leverage digital technologies in their proceedings.The session also explored whether these courts are the most suitable for digital technology-related disputes compared to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and online dispute resolution (ODR) methods.

Reflecting the apprehensions in the global oil market and ahead of the key US economic data, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Tuesday saw its key index plummet 147 points and market capitalisation erode QR8bn.The foreign institutions were increasingly net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index tanked 1.38% to 10,458.21 points, although the index touched an intraday high of 10,578 points.The industrials and banking counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened further to 3.44%.The Gulf funds turned net sellers in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted 1.27% to QR620.22bn primarily on the back of large cap segments.However, the domestic institutions were seen increasingly bullish in the main market, which saw no trading of exchange traded funds.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices of the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the increase.The local individual investors were increasingly net buyers in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Arab retail investors were also increasingly net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index shed 1.38%, the All Islamic Index by 1.01% and the All Share Index by 1.34% in the main market.The industrials sector index tanked 2.07%, banks and financial services (1.46%), consumer goods and services (0.9%), transport (0.63%), insurance (0.41%) and telecom (0.4%); while real estate was up 0.05%.As much as 62% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Industries Qatar, QNB, Qatar Electricity and Water, Gulf International Services, Dlala, Qatar Islamic Bank, Dukhan Bank, Woqod and Qatar National Cement. In the venture market, both Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Aamal Company, Doha Bank, Ezdan, Lesha Bank and Estithmar Holding were among the gainers in the main bourse.The foreign institutions’ net selling increased noticeably to QR60.26mn compared to QR58.37mn on November 11.The Gulf institutions were net sellers to the tune of QR40.08mn against net buyers of QR15.34mn on Monday.The Gulf individual investors’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR0.93mn compared to QR1.54mn the previous day.However, the domestic institutions’ net buying expanded significantly to QR56.65mn against QR38.27mn on November 11.The Qatari retail investors’ net buying strengthened considerably to QR28.13mn compared to QR1.65mn on Monday.The Arab individual investors’ net buying increased markedly to QR9.33mn against QR2.32mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR5.31mn compared with net sellers of QR0.76mn on November 11.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the seventh straight session.Trade volumes in the main market soared 23% to 158.49mn shares, value by 17% to QR461.6mn and transactions by 8% to 16,532.The venture market saw 74% contraction in trade volumes to 0.22mn equities, 75% in value to QR0.53mn and 46% in deals to 32.

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) will help the Maldives build an international financial centre in the Asian country, highlighting the growing prominence of the QFC in the global arena.In this regard, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) of the Maldives has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the QFC.The MoU would be instrumental in promoting knowledge and capacity building, which are integral to establish a world-class financial centre in the Maldives and build economic resilience.Through the MoU, the QFC will conduct regular knowledge exchange sessions to share best practices in financial management, regulatory frameworks, and operational strategies, supporting the establishment of the financial centre in the Maldives.Additionally, the QFC will facilitate networking opportunities to foster partnerships with financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and industry experts, building a robust ecosystem for the financial centre in the Maldives."This partnership underscores our dedication to fostering a lasting, impactful network with global financial institutions and supports our aim to build a sustainable financial ecosystem that drives economic prosperity,” said Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive officer, QFC Authority.The QFC - home to international and domestic firms -- has attracted more than 2,200 firms since 2005, significantly contributing to Qatar’s economic diversification and growth.“This MoU is a significant step towards establishing a robust international financial centre... We are confident that our collaboration with QFC will provide invaluable insights and support," according to Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed.This partnership not only leverages the QFC’s expertise and MEDT’s strategic vision but also strengthens the long-standing friendship between Qatar and the Maldives.The pact is expected to bring significant benefits to countries, fostering economic growth and development through enhanced cooperation and mutual support.In May this year, foreign ministers of both the countries had held high-level talks aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries where the future avenues for collaboration to advance Qatar-the Maldives development partnership.In its latest annual report, the QFC, which is on a “renewed trajectory”, said it finds considerable prospects in the run-up to 2030 on increasing demand for digital payments, a stronger focus on sustainability in business and community, and accelerated mobility of skilled talent and private wealth.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) of Maldives has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).The MoU between would be instrumental to the promotion of knowledge and capacity building, which is integral to delivering Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s vision to establish a world-class financial center in the Maldives and build economic resilience.Through the MoU, the QFC will conduct regular knowledge exchange sessions to share best practices in financial management, regulatory frameworks, and operational strategies, supporting the establishment of the financial center in the Maldives.

Al Faleh Educational Holding is exploring options to acquire a school in Qatar as part of its expansion strategy.In a communique to the Qatar Stock Exchange, the company announced its intention to explore the potential idea of acquisition of a school in Qatar with an estimated capacity of around 2,000 students."The company plans to assess the strategic compatibility of such an idea within its current group portfolio, as well as to evaluate the investment return and overall feasibility," the communique said.

The Qatar Stock Exchange on Monday fell 19 points on the back of selling pressure, especially at the transport, telecom, realty and industrials counters.The foreign funds were seen increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.17% to 10,605.07 points, but recovering from an intraday low of 10,570 points.The foreign individuals were increasingly net profit takers in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 2.08%.The domestic funds’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse, whose capitalisation shed QR0.37bn or 0.06% to QR628.22bn on the back of microcap segments.However, the Gulf institutions turned net buyers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.01mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.04mn trade across four deals.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main bourse, whose trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes.The Arab individual investors turned bullish in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local retail investors were net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index fell 0.17%, the All Islamic Index by 0.21% and the All Share Index by 0.11% in the main market.The transport sector index declined 0.81%, telecom (0.38%), realty (0.36%), industrials (0.34%) and insurance (0.03%); while banks and financial services gained 0.12% and consumer goods and services 0.03%.As much as 66% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Meeza, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Ahlibank Qatar, Estithmar Holding, Nakilat, Salam International Investment, Qamco and Barwa.Nevertheless, Widam Food, Ezdan, Al Khaleej Takaful and Gulf Warehousing were among the gainers in the main bourse.In the venture market, both Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares appreciate in value.The foreign institutions’ net selling increased substantially to QR58.37mn compared to QR13.79mn on November 10.The foreign retail investors’ net selling grew marginally to QR0.76mn against QR0.49mn the previous day.The domestic institutions’ net buying declined perceptibly to QR38.27mn compared to QR40.94mn on Sunday.However, the Gulf institutions were net buyers to the tune of QR15.34mn against net sellers of QR14.15mn on November 10.The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the extent of QR2.32mn compared with net sellers of QR1.34mn the previous day.The Qatari retail investors were net buyers to the tune of QR1.65mn against net profit takers of QR11.14mn on Sunday.The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the extent of QR1.54mn compared with net sellers of QR0.04mn on November 10.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the sixth straight session.Trade volumes in the main market shrank 16% to 128.71mn shares, while value was up 1% to QR395.54mn and transactions by 25% to 15,318.The venture market saw a 20% contraction in trade volumes to 0.86mn equities, 21% in value to QR2.08mn and 20% in deals to 59.

Qatar's banking sector saw total assets reach QR2.03tn in September 2024, an increase of 1.2% month-on-month and 2.9% year-on-year, according to QNB Financial Services (QNBFS).The asset enhancement in September has been on account of a 1.1% rise in domestic assets, QNBFS said in its ‘Qatar Monthly Key Banking Indicators’.Liquid assets to total assets went up to 30.3% in September 2024 compared to 29.8% in August 2024, which remains in a "healthy" position, it said.The banks’ total assets had grown by an average 6.8% over the past five years (2019-23).The loan book moved up by 0.5% month-on-month (up 4.8% in 2024), while deposits went up by 1.1% (up 6.2% in 2024) in September 2024. Loans grew by an average 6.5% during 2019-2023.With deposits rising (1%) more than loans during September, the LDR (loan-to-deposit ratio) slipped to 128.9% against 129.7% in August 2024.Loan provisions to gross loans edged up to 4.2% in September 2024 compared to August 2024, the report said.The overall loan book moved up by 0.5% in September 2024, pushed up mainly by private sector loans, which expanded 0.7% month-on-month (+3.5% in 2024) during September 2024.Consumption and others was the main driver for the private sector loans in September 2024. Consumption and others (contributes about 20% to private sector loans) increased by 2.7% month-on-month, while services (about 32%) moved up by 0.2% month-on-month (+3.9% in 2024), with general trade (about 21%) going up by 0.3% (+3.6% in 2024) and the real estate (about 21%) gaining 0.2% (+8.8% in 2024) in the review period.Total public sector loans were marginally down month-on-month (+6.3% in 2024) in September 2024, which remains the primary drive of credit. The semi-government institutions segment was the main catalyst for the public sector decline with a 2.3% drop (-8.3% in 2024), while the government institutions’ segment (representing about 65% of public sector loans) went down by 0.2% (+6.7% in 2024). However, the government segment (about 29%) went up by 0.8% (+8.6% in 2024) during September 2024.The banks' overseas loans edged up by 0.3% month-on-month (+13.9% in 2024) in September.Public sector deposits grew 1.3% month-on-month (+10.3% in 2024) in September 2024. The government institutions’ deposits (representing about 55% of public sector deposits) rose by 1.5% (+8.2% in 2024), while the semi-government institutions’ segment moved up 0.6% (-12.7% in 2024) in September.Non-resident deposits increased by 2% month-on-month (+11.3% in 2024) during September 2024. Non-resident Deposits as a percentage of total deposits moved up to 19% as at September 2024 compared to 18.2% at year-end 2023; indicating that banks are still relying on external funding.Private sector deposits in banks was higher by 0.6% month-on-month (+1.1% in 2024) in September. On the private sector front, the consumer segment increased by 1% (+7.2% in 2024), which indicates retail prefer to increase their savings vis-a-vis borrowings. Moreover, companies and institutions’ edged up by 0.2% (-5.7% in 2024).The return on equity or RoE for the banking sector stood at an annualised 11.1% at the end of September 2024 against 14.9% at year-end 2023. Major drag on the overall sector RoEs is mainly due to low single digit RoEs generated by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank. On the other hand, QNB Group and Qatar Islamic Bank continue to generate strong double digit RoEs, QNBFS said.

Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) has said visa waiver for the Qatari nationals has helped in increasing tourists’ inflows to the Asian nation and will partake in the upcoming Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) to work together with partners in Doha, a move seen mutually beneficial for both the economies."The number of Qatari nationals visiting Japan has been on the rise. From January to June 2024, 1,926 Qatari nationals visited Japan, which is a 17.3% increase from the same period last year," JNTO executive director Daisuke Kobayashi told Gulf Times in an interview.Since the introduction of the visa waiver for Qatari nationals, Japan has seen some increase in number of visitors, he said.Japan activated the system of visa exemption for Qatari citizens effective from August 21, 2023; enabling them to apply electronically for visas at the Embassy of Japan in Doha to further register their passports and then finalising registration for the visa waiver online.By offering travellers varied experiences across Japan, he said, JNTO aims to ensure that tourism growth remains sustainable while enhancing the quality of experiences for both visitors and local communities.Highlighting JNTO has an essential role in promoting new seasonal and regional attractions, he said it will participate in the upcoming QTM.QTM - which brings the world's top destinations together to share the latest trends in Sports, MICE, Business, Cultural, Leisure, Luxury, Medical and Halal Tourism - is scheduled to take place on November 25-27."It is important for JNTO to create and maintain positive and productive relationships with airlines and travel agencies in the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) region in order to promote Japan as preferred leisure destination," Kobayashi said.Many people in the Gulf region know Japan to enjoy cherry blossoms. However, with Japan's 47 prefectures, each offering its own unique attractions, and four distinct seasons, there is always something new to discover, according to him."That’s one of the most special things about Japan: no matter how many times you visit or which season you explore, there is always an opportunity for endless discoveries," he said.Asked about the growing concerns on over-tourism in Japan, he said it was limited to certain popular areas. Nevertheless, JNTO and other Japanese tourism authorities are taking proactive steps to address this issue, led primarily by the Japan Tourism Agency."Our approach focuses on finding a balance between promoting tourism and managing visitor numbers to ensure that Japan remains a sustainable and welcoming destination," he said, adding "we believe that by carefully planning and executing our promotional activities, we can mitigate the impact of over-tourism."In this regard, he said, JNTO is encouraging visitors to explore Japan in different seasons beyond the cherry blossom period, such as enjoying the autumn foliage or winter snow, which helps distribute visitors throughout the year."Additionally, we are promoting diverse regions across Japan to broaden the appeal of travel destinations beyond the traditional “Golden Route” of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. This allows visitors to discover the unique charm of lesser-known regions and contributes to a more balanced distribution of travellers," according to him.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) closed in the positive terrain with its key index gaining 44 points and capitalisation added about QR2bn this week, which otherwise saw truncated sessions in view of holidays declared after the historic constitutional referendum.The foreign funds were seen bullish as the 20-stock Qatar Index gained 0.42% this week which saw the Qatar Central Bank or QCB decide to bring down the deposit rate and the lending rate by 30 basis points to 4.9% and 5.4% respectively.The telecom and real estate counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main market this week which saw QatarEnergy inaugurate four new conventional-size liquefied natural gas vessels built in the Samsung Heavy Industries Shipyard and the Hanwha Ocean Shipyard in Korea as part of the energy major's historic fleet expansion programme.The Arab retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw the Qatar Financial Centre’s latest purchasing managers’ index suggest Doha saw faster increase in new businesses in the non-energy private sector, generating renewed expansion in the overall business activity in October 2024.The Qatar individuals’ weakened net selling had its influence in the main market this week which saw an International Monetary Fund data suggest Qatar to lead the Gulf Co-operation Council or GCC in real oil gross domestic product growth this year with a 1.2% jump against a 3.2% fall in the region.The Gulf retail investors’ lower net profit booking also had its say in the main bourse this week which saw Standard and Poor's (S&P), an international credit rating agency, view that Qatar's LNG production is slated to rise by 35% from the current levels by 2027 with additional demand coming from Europe and the country’s per capita income rising above $80,000.The Gulf institutions were seen net buyers in the main market this week, which saw the QCB assistant governor Sheikh Ahmed bin Khaled al-Thani say that the country has an "incredibly bright" future for its capital market with distributed ledger technology (DLT) and digital assets driving the future of the financial industry.However, the foreign retail investors were seen bearish in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.21mn Masraf Al Rayan-sponsored exchange-traded fund QATR worth QR0.46mn trade across 39 deals.The domestic institutions also turned net sellers in the main market this week which saw as many as 4,637 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.05mn change hands across six transactions.The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices in the main market this week, which saw the industrials and realty sectors together constitute about 56% of the total trade volumes.Market capitalisation added QR1.87bn or 0.3% to QR627.08bn on the back of small cap segments this week, which saw no trading of treasury bills.Trade turnover and volumes were on the declined in both the main and venture markets this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index gained 0.42%, the All Share Index by 0.27% and the All Islamic Index by 0.73% this week, which saw container and bulk cargo through Qatar's ports report a double-digit year-on-year growth in October 2024, indicating the country's growing trade and economic ties with the rest of the world.The telecom sector index shot up 2.08%, real estate (0.73%), banks and financial services (0.4%) and industrials (0.31%); while transport declined 1%, insurance (0.8%) and consumer goods and services (0.27%) this week.Major gainers in the main bourse included Estithmar Holding, Ooredoo, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Qatar National Cement, Qatar German Medical Devices, Qatar Islamic Bank, QIIB, Dukhan Bank, Qatari Investors Group, Aamal Company, Industries Qatar and Mazaya Qatar. In the venture market, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.Nevertheless, about 64% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market with major losers being Doha Insurance, Inma Holding, Gulf Warehousing, Milaha, Alijarah Holding, Lesha Bank, Salam International Investments, Medicare Group, Baladna, Meeza and Gulf International Services. In the juniour bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR53.37mn compared with net sellers of QR74.73mn the week ended October 31.The Arab individual investors’ net buying increased perceptibly to QR15.83mn against QR13.24mn the previous week.The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR5.34mn compared with net profit takers of QR15.83mn a week ago.The local retail investors’ net selling weakened considerably to QR45.03mn against QR61.59mn the week ended October 31.The Gulf individuals’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR2.11mn compared to QR2.33mn the previous week.However, the foreign individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR16.67mn against net buyers of QR2.83mn a week ago.The domestic funds were net sellers to the extent of QR10.72mn compared with net buyers of QR138.52mn the week ended October 31.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net profit takers to the extent of QR0.11mn the previous week.The main market witnessed a 59% plunge in trade volumes to 468.05mn shares, 58% in value to QR1.03bn and 56% in deals to 33,881 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes tanked 87% to 1.53mn equities, value by 87% QR3.95mn and transactions by 78% to 153.

The Middle East and North Africa (Mena) IPO (initial public offering) outlook remains cautiously optimistic during the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, with five maiden offers raising $0.93bn, and another 11 private entities and five funds set to be listed by the end of this year, according to Ernst & Young (EY).Listings in the Mena region marked a significant 76.8% year-on-year (YoY) increase in value in the review period, EY said in its latest report.While the global IPO market overall experienced a mild slowdown during Q3-2024, the Mena market is still exhibiting a strong IPO pipeline as an additional 11 private companies across various sectors as well as five funds intend to list on the Mena exchanges by the end of this year.In the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council), notable companies that have made announcements regarding their listing plans include LuLu Group International on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), Talabat Middle East on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and OQ Exploration and Production on the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX).In Saudi Arabia, Tamkeen Human Resources Company, Arabian Company for Agricultural and Industrial Investments and Nice One Beauty Digital Marketing have obtained approval from the Capital Market Authority (CMA).In terms of Mena stock exchange performance, the Egyptian Exchange (EGX30) retained its top position during Q3-2024 with a 26.8% increase from the beginning of the year.Meanwhile, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index closed Q3-2024 with a gain of 14.3% against the beginning of the year, making it the highest-performing market in the GCC. At the end of the quarter, four out of the five Mena IPOs showed a positive return compared to their IPO price."Despite the ongoing and challenging geopolitical environment in the Mena region, the IPO pipeline remains robust. We can expect to see a number of IPOs in the final quarter across a variety of sectors,” said Brad Watson, EY Mena Strategy and Transactions Leader.Highlighting that the UAE recorded the region’s largest IPO for the quarter; the report said ADX welcomed the largest offering of the quarter in the Mena region with NMDC Energy, which specialises in EPC solutions and marine construction, raising $877mn and contributing 94.8% of the overall IPO proceeds.Furthermore, environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals remains high on the agenda. The UAE has enacted a law that will become effective in May 2025, mandating companies to report carbon emissions, comply with decarbonisation strategies, and implement solutions such as renewable energy and carbon offsetting.The law applies to all sectors, including free zones, and sets penalties for non-compliance. It also encourages research and development, and establishes a carbon credit registry to facilitate carbon trading in line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.Saudi Arabia was the frontrunner in listing activity in the third quarter of this year with three IPOs out of five with a total fundraising of $27mn. The highest proceeds – $12mn – belonged to Tharwah Human Resources Company, followed by ASG Plastic Factory Company with $9m and Al Ashghal Almoysra Company with $6mn.All three IPOs were listed on the Nomu – Parallel Market. The funds have been raised in the commercial and professional services as well as materials sectors. The Kingdom also witnessed two direct listings on the Nomu – Parallel Market, the Naas Petrol Factory Company and the Arabian United Float Glass (UFG) Company.The third quarter of the year is typically quieter in terms of listing activity after the summer. However, the Mena region still witnessed five IPOs, including the first listing on the EGX since 2022, said Gregory Hughes, EY Mena IPO Leader."Saudi Arabia continues to lead IPO activity in the region. The Tadawul Nomu–Parallel Market has become an attractive option, offering improved fundraising opportunities for the kingdom’s growing SME or small and medium enterprises sector. For the Mena region, it is now the stock exchange with the highest number of IPOs in 2024,” he added.

Qatar is slated to lead the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC ) in real oil gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year with a 1.4% jump against a 3.2% fall in the region, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) data.Four out of six of the GCC countries are expected to witness contractions in their oil GDP growth in 2024: Saudi Arabia (-5%), Kuwait (-6.6%), Oman (-3.4%) and Bahrain (-1%)."Comparatively, Qatar is expected to lead in terms of real oil GDP growth at 1.4% in 2024, followed by the UAE at 0.3%," said Kamco Invest, quoting data from the IMF's latest Regional Economic Outlook.The GCC oil GDP growth is expected to recover in 2025 led by the UAE which is expected to witness 6.7% real oil GDP expansion in 2025, followed by the Saudi Arabia (+5%) and Kuwait (+4%).In terms of non-oil GDP activity, the GCC region is expected to witness a relatively higher growth rate of 3.7% in 2024 supported by a 10-bps (basis points) growth rate upward revision, followed by 4% expected growth rate in 2025.Despite a "significant" reduction in oil and energy export revenues, the GCC countries continue to maintain their economic diversification and reform projects, which underpin the expected growth of the region’s non-oil economy, Kamco Invest said.The IMF expects the UAE to lead in terms of non-oil GDP growth in the GCC region in 2024 at 5.3% followed by Bahrain (+3.8%) and Saudi Arabia (+3.7%).The GCC real oil GDP growth is expected to contract by 3.2% in 2024 after a 5.8% contraction in 2023. Headline GCC oil GDP forecast for 2024 was lowered by 210-bps, due to the expectation that the voluntary oil production cuts will remain intact until the end of 2025. Opec+ has lowered their world oil demand forecast for 2024 and 2025 for three consecutive months.Highlighting that the GCC inflation continues to remain subdued; Kamco Invest said it is expected to continue to decrease gradually from 6.7% in 2023 to 5.8% in 2024 and 4.3% in 2025.However, the rate of decline in headline inflation is expected to be different for the different regions in the world with advanced economies poised to witness faster inflation decline as compared to emerging markets and developing economies, it said, adding the decline of global inflation was supported by lower oil prices coupled with a faster than expected decrease of global food commodity prices."For the oil exporting countries in the region, especially the GCC, inflation remains subdued during 2024 with almost all the GCC countries witnessing inflation rates of under or near 2%. Comparatively, inflation in the wider Mena (Middle East and North Africa) regions is expected to remain in double digits till 2025," it said.Finding that currently ongoing conflicts such as the war on Gaza and Lebanon have exacerbated heightening uncertainty, disrupting trade routes and displacing people from their dwellings; Kamco Invest said the volume of container shipping that passed through the Suez Canal was over 70% below the pre-conflict levels as most of the trade has been re-routed around the bottom of Africa in the Cape of Good Hope.

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) on Tuesday gained more than 23 points on buying interests especially in the telecom, transport, real estate and consumer goods sectors.The Gulf individuals were seen net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.22% to 10,568.52 points, recovering from an intraday low of 10,528 points.The foreign individuals’ weakened net profit booking had its influence in the main market, whose year-to-date losses truncated to 2.42%.The foreign funds continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse, whose capitalisation added QR0.23bn or 0.04% to QR627.08bn on the back of small cap segments.The Arab retail investors also continued to be bullish but with lesser vigour in the main market, which saw as many as 0.19mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.46mn trade across 31 deals.The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the other indices of the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decline.The domestic institutions were increasingly into net selling in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The local retail investors turned net sellers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index rose 0.22%, the All Islamic Index by 0.29% and the All Share Index by 0.15% in the main market.The telecom sector index shot up 1.02%, transport (0.62%), real estate (0.5%), consumer goods and services (0.4%), banks and financial services (0.11%) and insurance (0.05%); while industrials declined 0.28%.Major movers in the main market included Beema, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Al Khaleej Takaful, Nakilat, Qatar National Cement, Woqod, Qamco, Barwa, Mazaya Qatar and Ooredoo.Nevertheless, as much as 48% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers in the main bourse being Estithmar Holding, Doha Insurance, Qatar German Medical Devices and Dlala. In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value.The Gulf individuals were seen net buyers to the tune of QR1.04mn compared with net sellers of QR2.42mn on November 4.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking declined perceptibly to QR1.97mn against QR8.09mn the previous day.The foreign retail investors’ net selling weakened noticeably to QR3.51mn compared to QR9.75mn on Monday.The Qatari individual investors’ net profit booking shrank markedly to QR3.11mn against QR19.88mn on November 4.However, the domestic institutions’ net selling strengthened notably to QR7.88mn compared to QR4.29mn the previous day.The foreign institutions’ net buying shrank substantially to QR13.08mn against QR31.41mn on Monday.The Arab individual investors’ net buying decreased significantly to QR2.36mn compared to QR13.01mn on November 4.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the fourth straight session.Trade volumes in the main market shrank 33% to 132.35mn shares, value by 18% to QR330.68mn and transactions by 2% to 12,656.The venture market saw 61% contraction in trade volumes to 0.27mn equities, 61% in value to QR0.71mn and 56% in deals to 30.

Qatar has an "incredibly bright" future for its capital market and distributed ledger technology (DLT) and digital assets are set to drive the future of the financial industry, according to Sheikh Ahmed bin Khaled al-Thani, Assistant Governor for Financial Instruments and Payment Systems at Qatar Central Bank (QCB)."The future of capital markets in Qatar and the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) is incredibly bright. By embracing DLT, AI (artificial intelligence), and other innovative technologies, we are setting the stage for a more efficient, secure, and globally integrated financial system," Sheikh Ahmed, who is also the chairman of Edaa, told the Network Forum Middle East, organised by Edaa for the first time in Qatar.Recognising the immense potential of DLT and digital assets in driving the future of the financial industry, he said since the launch of the fintech strategy, Qatar has made tremendous strides in advancing digital transformation across various sectors."As part of our fintech strategy, we have made tremendous strides in advancing digital transformation across various sectors, positioning ourselves as a key player in the adoption of innovative financial technologies," he said, adding the country has introduced regulatory guidelines for innovative solutions such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), crowdfunding, and e-KYC, creating a strong regulatory foundation for new digital products and services.Highlighting that the goal is to cultivate a thriving fintech ecosystem, attracting startups and established players alike to innovate and grow in the Qatari market; he said "we are all aware that international investors are increasingly focusing on our region, drawn by the stability, strategic opportunities, and commitment to innovation that the GCC offers."Stressing that Edaa has been working diligently to ensure that its financial infrastructure meets the highest global standards, particularly by shortening the settlement cycle; he said Edaa has been at the forefront of this transformation, successfully modernising its systems to bring settlement times in line with global norms, ensuring that Qatar remains an attractive and competitive market.Innovation is central to the future of capital markets, and CSDs (central securities depositories) play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of financial systems, he said.“As part of the capital markets platform, we are constantly leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI to enhance our post-trade infrastructure. AI can revolutionise our operations by improving trade monitoring, detecting fraud, and optimising regulatory compliance," he added.These technological advances will not only streamline services but also significantly improve risk management, delivering faster and more reliable outcomes for both local and international investors. Besides, the growing interest in securities lending and digital custody further highlights the need for strong frameworks to manage risk and ensure the security of digital assets, according to him.Highlighting the need to strike a balance between trust and ease of use; Qatar Stock Exchange acting chief executive officer Abdulaziz Nasser al-Emadi said "regulation should not restrict innovation, but regulators should play a key role in the way market behaviours and practices are regulated."

Doha saw faster increase in new business in the non-energy private sector, generating renewed expansion in the overall business activity and signalling a booming labour market, especially in the financial services, in October 2024, according to the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).The 12-month outlook remained stronger than the long-run survey trend, according to the QFC's purchasing managers' index (PMI), a composite single-figure indicator of non-energy private sector performance derived from indicators for new orders, output, employment, suppliers’ delivery times and stocks of purchases.Demand for goods and services increased at a faster rate, leading to growth in total activity and the greatest build-up of outstanding business in over two years, it said."The headline PMI rose to 52.8 in October, taking it above the average for the third quarter (52.0) and signalling renewed momentum in the non-energy sector. New business growth accelerated, driving total activity higher and leading to a faster build-up in outstanding work," QFC Authority Chief Executive Officer Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida said.The Qatar PMI indices are compiled from survey responses from a panel of around 450 private sector companies from the manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, and services sectors, reflecting the structure of the non-energy economy according to official national accounts data.The rise in the PMI since September mainly reflected a faster increase in new business, which in turn generated a renewed expansion in overall business activity. Inflows of new business expanded for the 10th month running, linked to successful marketing, service enhancements, population growth and client satisfaction. Outstanding business increased for the second month running and at the fastest rate since June 2022.October data signalled continued investment in staff in order to boost capacity. Over the past two months non-energy employment has risen more quickly than at any other time in the survey history. Service providers in particular raised staffing levels at a rapid rate."A key theme of recent months has been the booming labour market, and this continued at the start of the fourth quarter. The employment and staff costs sub-indices remained close to September’s record highs as firms reported hiking salaries to boost capacity and retain skilled and experienced staff. However, higher staff costs have not been passed on to customers as prices charged fell further in October," al-Jaida said.Wage inflation in the non-energy sector remained close to September's record level in October. The seasonally adjusted Staff Costs Index was the second highest on record. Companies reported boosting salaries to retain experienced and skilled staff in a highly competitive market.Overall cost pressures were the highest since July 2020. In contrast, prices charged for goods and services fell for the third month running as firms competed for business.Confidence regarding the next 12 months remained strong in October, with sentiment the second highest since early-2023, it said, adding positive forecasts were linked to improving market conditions, population growth, real estate investment, new products, marketing and tourism.Competition among suppliers and good relationships led to another reduction in average lead times in October. Inventory levels rose, leading to a downward adjustment in purchasing activity.There was a further marked increase demand for Qatari financial services in October, driving a record increase in employment in the sector. The seasonally adjusted Financial Services Employment Index rose to 63.3, from 60.9 in September, the highest since the series began in April 2017. New business (index 60.8) expanded at a relatively strong rate.Companies were strongly optimistic regarding the 12-month outlook, with sentiment at the second-highest level since early-2023 (69). Total financial services activity increase at a faster rate (57).In terms of prices, average charges set by financial services companies fell for the third month running. Meanwhile, average input prices rose the most since July 2020.

Containers, bulk cargo and RORO (vehicles) through Qatar's ports saw a brisk year-on-year growth in October 2024, indicating the country's growing trade and economic ties with the rest of the world, according to the official data.The number of ships calling on Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports stood at 259 in October 2024, which saw a 4.02% increase on a monthly basis but down 1.52% year-on-year, according to the figures released by Mwani Qatar.Hamad Port, whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf, supporting countries such as Kuwait and Iraq and south towards Oman, saw as many as 149 vessels call (excluding military) in the review period. A total of 2,304 ships had called on the three ports during the first 10 months of this year."We’ve hit all-time highs in total F/T (freight tonnes) and units handled for our RORO operations at Hamad Port," QTerminals had said in its social media handle X.The general and bulk cargo handled amounted to 151,663 freight tonnes through the three ports, which surged 94.77% year-on-year but fell 6.17% month-on-month in October 2024.Hamad Port – whose multi-use terminal is designed to serve the supply chains for the RORO, grains and livestock – handled 268,477 freight tonnes of cargoes of which break-bulk was 91,056 freight tonnes and bulk was 45,022 freight tonnes this October. A total of 1.43mn freight tonnes of general and bulk cargoes were handled by the three ports during January-October 2024.The container handling through the three ports stood at 131,608 twenty-foot equivalent units or TEUs, which saw 10.18% and 5.43% growth year-on-year and month-on-month respectively in October this year.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. With a stacking area of 176,000sq m, the container terminal 2 or CT2 is equipped with the latest advanced technology, including remote-operated ship-to-shore cranes, hybrid rubber-tyred gantries, and electric tractors.Hamad Port, which recently celebrated a huge milestone of exceeding 10mn TEUs since beginning operations in 2016, has rapidly evolved into a critical hub for international shipping, catering to the needs of all major global shipping lines.Hamad Port, which is the largest eco-friendly project in the region and internationally recognised as one of the largest green ports in the world, saw 130,627 TEUs this October. The container volume at the three ports totalled 1.23mn TEUs during January-October 2024.The three ports handled as many as 16,187 RORO in October 2024, which registered a 149.26% and 56.65% surge on annualised and monthly basis respectively. Hamad Port alone handled 16,145 units this October. A total of 105,483 RORO units were handled by three ports during January-October 2024.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.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.The three ports were seen handling 40,661 livestock in October 2024, which shrank 3.09% year-on-year but shot up 43.42% on a monthly basis. As many as 471,581 livestock heads were handled by three ports during the first 10 months of this year.The three ports had reported no traffic of building materials this October. As much as 264,719 tonnes of building materials have been so far handled by Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports.

Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production will increase by 35% from the current levels by 2027, suggesting demand for additional exports, particularly to Europe and enhancing the country's per capita income to rise above $80,000, according Standard & Poor's (S&P), an international credit rating agency."Qatar's LNG production is set to rise further once the North Field Expansion (NFE) project comes online, which we expect by 2026-27. The strategic pivot away from Russian gas, particularly by European economies, suggests there will be demand for additional exports from Qatar," S&P said, affirming 'AA/A-1+' long-and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Qatar with a "stable" outlook.The stable outlook reflects its view that Qatar's fiscal and external buffers should continue to benefit from the country's position as one of the world's largest exporters of LNG over the next two years, further boosted by production increases through the NFE project over 2026-30.Qatar remains supported by its sizeable external and fiscal net asset positions, underpinned by funds accumulated within the sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), from past exports of hydrocarbons, in particular LNG. "We forecast the government's liquid assets will average 165% of GDP (gross domestic product) over 2024-27."We expect Qatar to remain one of the largest exporters of LNG globally. The government plans to increase Qatar's LNG production capacity to 126mn tonnes per year (Mtpa) by 2027 from 77 Mtpa currently and further to 142 Mtpa before 2030, an almost 85% increase above the current capacity," it said.Qatar derives about 40% of its GDP, 80% of government revenue, and 90% of exports from the hydrocarbon sector. As a result, S&P forecasts the country's strong fiscal and current account surpluses will persist in 2024-27, based on a Brent oil price assumption of $81 per barrel (/bbl) in 2024 and $75/bbl in 2025-2027, together with expected increases in LNG production capacity by 2027.Finding that almost all of Qatar's exports currently pass through the Strait of Hormuz and more than 70% of Qatar's LNG exports go to Asia; the rating agency said "we expect this to remain broadly unaffected by the current geopolitical tensions, including the widening war between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah, and the incidents in the Red Sea.""We understand that disruptions have not prevented delivery of Qatar's LNG, as shipments going north to Europe have been rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope," it added.Qatar's fiscal and external inflows are expected to remain supported by uninterrupted export flows, given that Qatar predominantly exports LNG to Asian buyers and these flows have remained unaffected by the ongoing disruption of Red Sea trade, according to S&P.Despite the geopolitical risks in the Middle East, it anticipates that the macroeconomic conditions in Qatar would remain broadly stable.Forecasting the fiscal surplus to strengthen to about 8% of GDP by 2027 as new LNG production comes on stream from the NFE project, S&P said in the first half of 2024, the central government's fiscal surplus stood at QR4.6bn (0.6% of GDP)."We expect real GDP to expand by 2% on average in 2024-25, supported by nonhydrocarbon sectors, such as wholesale and retail trade, finance, and hospitality. We forecast growth will temporarily accelerate to 7% in 2027 as additional gas production starts and the spillover effects also benefit the nonhydrocarbon sector," it said.Highlighting that Qatar's income levels remain among the highest of rated sovereigns, supporting its credit profile; S&P forecasts GDP per capita should increase above $80,000, once the NFE project boosts LNG production after 2026.

Earnings prospects and optimism at the geopolitical front in the Arab region helped Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) saw an across the board buying, resulting in 123 points gain in the key index and about QR14bn in capitalisation this week.The Arab retail investors turned net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index surged 1.19% this week which saw the listed companies report a total net profit of QR39.75bn in the first nine months (9M) of this year.The real estate, telecom and transport counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main market this week which saw Milaha wins QR262mn New Fiber Link project from North Oil Company.About 77% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the main bourse this week which saw IRU (International Road Transport Union), which represents voice of more than 3.5mn companies operating mobility and logistics services in over 100 countries, say Qatar will display the strongest growth in road freight in the Gulf region at 35% between 2023 and 2030.The foreign institutions’ weakened net selling had its influence in the main market this week which saw QIIB report net profit of QR1.04bn in 9M-2024.The Gulf funds’ lower net profit booking also had its say in the main bourse this week which saw Industries Qatar’s 9M-2024 net profit at QR3.5bn.The Arab institutions’ weakened bearish grip had its impact in the main market this week, which saw Gulf International Services report net profit of QR573mn in January-September 2024.However, the local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.35mn Masraf Al Rayan-sponsored exchange-traded fund QATR worth QR0.77mn trade across 40 deals.The foreign individuals were seen into lesser net buying in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.13mn change hands across 13 transactions.The domestic institutions’ weakened bullish grip held its sway on the main bourse this week which saw the realty and industrials sectors together constitute more than 60% of the total trade volumes.The Islamic index was seen outperforming the other indices in the main market this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.Market capitalisation added QR13.64bn or 2.23% to QR625.21bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week, which saw no trading of treasury bills.Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the main market this week, which saw a Qatar Insurance report net profit of QR525mn in 9M-2024.The Total Return Index gained 1.19%, the All Share Index by 1.31% and the All Islamic Index by 1.39% this week, which saw Hamad Port witness a record breaking month in October 2024 as its cargo handling and RORO hit all-time high.The real estate sector index shot up 5.37%, telecom (1.96%), transport (1.54%), banks and financial services (1.18%), consumer goods and services (1.16%), industrials (0.84%) and insurance (0.26%) this week.Major gainers in the main bourse included Ezdan, Alijarah Holding, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, Salam International Investment, Aamal Company, Medicare Group, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Lesha Bank, Baladna, Qatari Investors Group, Qatar Electricity and Water, Aamal Company, Gulf International Services, Estithmar Holding, Al Khaleej Takaful, Mazaya Qatar and Barwa. In the venture market, Al Mahar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value this week.Nevertheless, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Inma Holding, Qatar German Medical Devices, Qatar National Cement and Al Faleh Educational Holding were among the losers in the market. In the junior bourse, Techno Q saw its shares depreciate in value this week.The Arab individual investors were net buyers to the tune of QR13.24mn against net sellers of QR15.34mn the week ended October 24.The foreign institutions’ net selling declined considerably to QR74.73mn compared to QR121.54mn a week ago.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking shrank markedly to QR15.83mn against QR38.75mn the previous week.The Arab institutions’ net selling weakened marginally to QR0.11mn compared to QR0.57mn the week ended October 24.However, the Qatari individuals’ net profit booking grew marginally to QR61.59mn against QR60.39mn a week ago.The Gulf retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR2.33mn compared with net buyers of QR1.58mn the previous week.The domestic funds’ net buying decreased substantially to QR138.52mn against QR207.66mn the week ended October 24.The foreign individuals’ net buying shrank perceptibly to QR2.83mn compared to QR27.34mn a week ago.The main market witnessed an 80% surge in trade volumes to 1.15bn shares, 49% in value to QR2.45bn and 29% in deals to 76,922 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes soared 56% to 12.21mn equities, value by 56% QR29.44mn and transactions by 65% to 694.

The foreign institutions were seen hurriedly squaring off their position on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which on Wednesday saw its key index plummet 127 points and capitalisation erode as much as QR5bn.The telecom and transport counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 1.2% to 10,463.68 points, although it touched an intraday high of 10,596 points.The Gulf institutions were increasingly into net profit booking in the main market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 3.39%.As much as 69% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation eroded QR4.77bn or 0.76% to QR623.16bn on the back of large and midcap segments.The Arab funds were seen net profit takers in the main market, which saw as many as 0.04mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.11mn trade across seven deals.The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the main barometer in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease.The domestic institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.However, the local retail investors turned net buyers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Total Return Index shed 1.2%, the All Islamic Index by 1.09% and the All Share Index by 1.05% in the main market.The telecom sector index tanked 1.86%, transport (1.7%), industrials (1.18%), banks and financial services (1.06%), consumer goods and services (0.4%) and insurance (0.34%); while real estate gained 0.48%.Major losers in the main bourse included Ooredoo, Qatar Islamic Bank, Milaha, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Qatari Investors Group, QIIB, Industries Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qamco, Mazaya Qatar and Nakilat.Nevertheless, Ezdan, Qatar Oman Investment, QLM, Meeza and Gulf International Services were among the gainers in the market.In the junior bourse, Al Mahhar Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.The foreign institutions’ net selling increased substantially to QR62.73mn compared to QR10.2mn on October 29.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking expanded noticeably to QR18.18mn against QR2.22mn the previous day.The Arab institutions were net profit takers to the tune of QR0.08mn compared with no major net exposure on Tuesday.The domestic institutions’ net buying decreased perceptibly to QR45.98mn against QR52.72mn on October 29.However, the Qatari individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR17.71mn compared with net sellers of QR36.04mn the previous day.The Arab individual investors’ net buying strengthened considerably to QR11.63mn against QR1.63mn on Tuesday.The foreign individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR4.71mn compared with net sellers of QR5.1mn on October 29.The Gulf retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR0.99mn against net profit takers of QR0.78mn the previous day.Trade volumes in the main market shrank 28% to 214.85mn shares, value by 17% to QR491.55mn and transactions by 7% to 15,395.The venture market saw a 79% contraction in trade volumes to 0.68mn equities, 79% in value to QR1.7mn and 75% in deals to 66.