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The Qatar Stock Exchange Sunday opened the week on a stronger note and its key index inched near 12,700 points, triggered by strong buying, especially in the industrials, consumer goods and insurance sectors. The Gulf and Arab institutions were seen net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 24 points or 0.19% higher at 12,678.31 points, although it touched an intraday high of 12,688 points. About 56% of the traded constituents saw appreciation in their value in the market, whose year-to-date gains stood at 9.05%. The local retail investors’ weakened net selling had its influence in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw more than QR1bn or 0.2% increase to QR726.31bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments. The domestic institutions’ net profit booking pressure also eased in the market, where the industrials, consumer goods and banking sectors together accounted for more than 80% of the trading volume. The foreign institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser vigour in the bourse, which saw a total of 49,968 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR382,212 changed hands across 16 deals. The foreign individuals were seen net sellers in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. Total trade turnover declined amidst higher volumes in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Total Return Index gained 0.19% to 25,097.49points, Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.`8% to 2,801.02 points and All Share Index by 0.18% to 3,998.35 points. The industrials sector index expanded 1.05%, consumer goods and services (0.91%) and insurance (0.59%); while real estate declined 0.66%, banks and financial services (0.19%), transport (0.11%) and telecom (0.07%). Major movers in the main market included Dlala, Qatar National Cement, Qatari German Medical Devices, QLM, Qatari Investors Group, Alijarah Holding, Inma Holding, Salam International Investment, Woqod, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Investment Holding Group, Qamco and Al Khaleej Takaful. Nevertheless, Zad Holding, Gulf Warehousing, Widam Food, Qatar Islamic Insurance and Barwa were among the losers in the main market. In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their scrips depreciate in value. The Gulf funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR9.43mn compared with net sellers of QR0.85mn on February 3. The Arab funds were seen net buyers to the extent of QR0.2mn against no major net exposure for the previous four sessions. Qatari individuals’ net selling declined substantially to QR24.25mn compared to QR110.71mn last Thursday. The domestic institutions’ net selling shrank considerably to QR7mn against QR33.67mn on February 3. The Gulf individuals’ net selling eased marginally to QR0.34mn compared to QR0.64mn the previous trading day. However, the foreign individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR8.1mn against net buyers of QR4.72mn last Thursday. The Arab individuals’ net profit booking grew perceptibly to QR1.76mn compared to QR1.44mn on February 3. The foreign institutions’ net buying weakened drastically to QR31.82mn against QR142.6mn the previous trading day. Total trade volume in the main market rose 1% to 161.82mn shares, while value fell 26% to QR485.92mn and transactions by 39% to 9,337. The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume soared 88% to 29.98mn equities, value by 58% to QR81.36mn and deals by 21% to 1,416. There was 37% surge in the industrials sector’s trade volume to 70.89mn stocks and 38% in value to QR207.89mn but on 7% decline in transactions to 3,135. The transport sector’s trade volume shot up 28% to 5.92mn shares and value by 33% to QR28.98mn but on 28% contraction in deals to 465. The insurance sector reported 21% expansion in trade volume to 6.47mn equities and 7% in value to QR16.5mn but on 50% shrinkage in transactions to 336. However, the telecom sector’s volume plummeted 75% to 5.52mn stocks, value by 77% to QR18.26mn and deals by 61% to 701. The market witnessed 32% plunge in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 13.9mn shares, 41% in value to QR19.51mn and 56% in transactions to 524. The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume tanked 26% to 29.15mn equities, value by 63% to QR113.42mn and deals by 57% to 2,760. In the venture market, volumes shrank 66.88% to 0.53mn stocks, value by 69.07% to QR4.6mn and transactions by 62.42% to 248.    

Global credit rating agency Capital Intelligence Ratings (CI) has affirmed the long-term foreign currency rating (LT FCR) and long-term local currency rating (LT LCR) of Qatar at ‘AA-’. The sovereign’s short-term FCR (ST FCR) and short-term LCR (ST LCR) have been affirmed at ‘A1+’. The outlook for the ratings remains "stable". The ratings are supported by the country's strong external position, with significant current account surpluses and substantial government assets under the management of the sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). The ratings are also supported by the sovereign’s very large hydrocarbon reserves, high fiscal strength, and low domestic political risk. CI said Qatar’s public and external finances are strong, reflecting persistent fiscal surpluses and substantial holdings of external assets. During 2000-20, the budget surplus averaged around 9% of gross domestic product (GDP), a large part of which was invested in external assets. As a result, the QIA’s total assets are estimated to be in the region of $300bn (177% of GDP in 2021). Qatar’s fiscal and external positions have also benefited from the rebound of hydrocarbon prices over the past year. CI estimates that the current account registered a surplus of 8.5% of GDP in 2021 compared to a deficit of 2.5% in 2020, and "is expected to post large surpluses averaging 9% of GDP in 2022-23." The budget surplus is expected to have doubled to 2.8% of GDP in 2021 against1.3% in 2020, and is slated to average 7.1% of GDP in 2022-23. While the reliance on hydrocarbon revenues renders the public finances vulnerable to large declines in hydrocarbon prices, the government has "ample leeway" to respond to such shocks given the degree of expenditure flexibility and the size of fiscal buffers, it said. CI notes that Qatar was the only Gulf country to register a budget surplus during the peak of the pandemic in 2020 as the shortfall in hydrocarbon revenues was partially offset by large cuts in public spending (primarily investment spending). Gross central government debt (including short-term treasury bills and overdrafts from banks) fell to 82.2% of GDP in 2021, from 97.7% in 2020, according to CI’s estimates, reflecting the growth of nominal GDP and a large primary budget surplus. CI expects debt dynamics to remain favourable in the coming years, resulting in a gradual decrease in the government debt ratio to 68.8% in 2023. The rating agency found that total banking sector assets, as a share of GDP, was reasonably high at 291.5% in November 2021, reflecting high rates of domestic credit growth and the international expansion of local banks. CI expects economic activity to continue to recover from the Covid shock over the next two years. After contracting by 2.6% in 2020, real GDP is forecast to have expanded by 2.2% in 2021 and is projected to grow by an average of 3.6% in 2022-23, driven by a rebound in non-hydrocarbon GD, it said. Non-hydrocarbon, particularly in the services sector, is expected to be supported by the hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it added. In terms of the hydrocarbon sector, CI expects LNG export volumes to increase modestly, while production at Qatar’s maturing oil fields is expected to witness further declines. Qatar’s ratings benefit from very large hydrocarbon reserves (around 12.9% of global gas reserves) and associated export capacity, which in turn provide the government with substantial financial means. Given the large hydrocarbon exports and rather small population, GDP per capita stood at an extremely high $60,272 in 2021.    

Doha continued to signal strong growth in the non-energy private sector at the start of 2022 with the wholesale and retail sector showing the maximum expansion, according to the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). The latest PMI data on Qatar's financial services sector signalled strengthening demand in January. "The first batch of data for 2022 signals that the non-energy economy continues to expand sharply, with the key indicators for output, new orders and employment all remaining well above their long-run averages. The forthcoming FIFA World Cup continues to be cited as a source of confidence among companies,” said Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive, QFC Authority. The QFC's PMI showed rates of expansion in output, new orders and backlogs of work all made further corrections from last November's records, but were still among the fastest registered throughout the near five-year history of the survey. The PMI eased further from November's record high of 63.1 to 57.6 in January, from 61.4 in December. The latest figure was still the seventh-highest in the survey history. In comparison, the PMI has trended at 51.3 since it was first compiled in April 2017. This comes at a time of reinstated temporary restrictions related to the Omicron variant of Covid-19 throughout Qatar. Despite this overall easing, employment rose for a record 16th successive month. The latest survey also revealed a slight easing of inflationary pressure in the non-energy economy. The PMI indices are compiled from survey responses from a panel of around 450 private sector companies. The panel covers the manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, and services sectors, and reflects the structure of the non-energy economy according to official national accounts data. The headline PMI is a composite single-figure indicator of non-energy private sector performance. It is derived from indicators for new orders, output, employment, suppliers’ delivery times and stocks of purchases. The private sector non-energy output rose for the 19th consecutive month in January but eased to a five-month low; yet remained among the strongest recorded to date. Growth remained notably strong in the wholesale and retail sector, while contraction was steepest in construction and services where Covid-19 restrictions had an impact. Highlighting that new business inflows increased further in January; it said the rate of growth eased since the end of 2021, but remained above the strong trend over the current 19-month expansionary sequence. There were notable slowdowns in the construction and services sectors, but these were partly offset by ongoing strong new business growth in manufacturing and wholesale and retail, it said. Demand for goods and services remained strong enough to generate rising backlogs at firms. The increase in outstanding business was softer than at the end of 2021, but still the fourth-strongest in the survey history. Employment in the non-energy private sector continued to rise in January, extending the current series-record sequence of job creation to 16 months. The growth eased since December but remained faster than the long-run trend. Recruitment remained strongest in the wholesale and retail sector. About the financial sector, it said new business received in the sector rose at a faster pace than in December, and one of the strongest since the series began in 2017. Total activity growth eased but was still the fifth-strongest on record. Employment at financial services firms rose for the fifth month running, the longest sequence of job creation in over two years, despite a moderation in business expectations at the surveyed firms, it said.    

* Sector marked 23.8% year-on-year increase and 4.8% monthly rise   Qatar's automobile sector registered a healthy 23.8% year-on-year growth in new registrations in December 2021, mainly on the back of robust demand, especially for private vehicles, motorcycles and private transport, according to the latest official statistics. New vehicle registration stood at 7,212, representing a 4.8% increase on a monthly basis, according to figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA). The registration of new private vehicles stood at 4,524, which posted a 14.4% and 4.4% growth year-on-year and month-on-month, respectively, in December 2021. Such vehicles constituted about 63% of the total new vehicles registered in the country in the review period. The registration of new private transport vehicles stood at 1,677, which showed a 46.1% and 26.9% expansion on yearly and monthly basis, respectively. Such vehicles constituted more than 23% of the total new vehicles in December 2021. According to the Qatar Central Bank data, auto loans to Qataris and non-Qataris were seen declining 26.81% and 16.67% year-on-year, respectively, to QR1.01bn and QR0.2bn in December 2021. Personal loans to Qataris reported a 39.2% surge year-on-year to QR83.63bn and those for non-Qataris by 6.05% to QR9.11bn in the review period. The overall consumption credit to nationals grew 9.34% year-on-year to QR147.95bn and that to non-Qataris by 5.47% to QR12.33bn in December 2021. The registration of new private motorcycles stood at 734 units, which registered 69.9% and 24.4% surge year-on-year and month-on-month, respectively. These constituted more than 10% of the total new vehicles in December 2021. The registration of new heavy equipment stood at 179, which constituted more than 2% of the total registration in the review period. Their registrations had seen 16.4% and 45.4% shrinkage on yearly and monthly basis, respectively. The new registration of other non-specified vehicles stood at 53 units, which shot up 51.4% year-on-year; but declined 79% month-on-month in December 2021. The registration of trailers saw a 9.8% year-on-year expansion to 45 units; but on a monthly basis, they showed 18.2% contraction in the review period. The renewal of registration was reported in 67,143 units, which saw a 4.2% jump on a yearly basis but fell 2.3% month-on-month in the review period. The transfer of ownership was reported in 29,711 vehicles in December 2021, which saw a marginal 0.7% increase year-on-year; but declined 3.8% on a monthly basis. The re-registration of vehicles grew 41.5% year-on-year to 116; even as it tanked 21.1% on a monthly basis. The modified vehicles’ registration saw a marginal 0.1% year-on-year decline to 4,144 units and it plunged 14.7% month-on-month in December 2021. The cancelled vehicles stood at 2,522 units, which soared 53.8% and 2.2% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively in the review period. The number of lost/damaged vehicles stood at 9,378 units, which dipped 13.2% and 9.7% on yearly and monthly basis respectively in December 2021. The number of vehicles meant for exports stood at 1,853 units, which zoomed 36.6% year-on-year but shrank 11% month-on-month respectively in December 2021. The clearing of vehicle-related processes stood at 122,107 units, which expanded 3.7% on a yearly basis but fell 3.3% month-on-month respectively in the review period.

A strong buying, especially at the consumer goods, insurance and telecom counters, yesterday lifted the Qatar Stock Exchange by more than 44 points and its key index crossed the 12,650 levels. Foreign institutions were increasingly into net buying as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.35% higher at 12,654.78 points, recovering from an intraday low of 12,595 points. The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the other indices in the market, whose year-to-date gains stood at 8.85%. The foreign individuals were also increasingly net buyers in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR1bn or 0.14% increase to QR724.87bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments. Nevertheless, local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the market, where the industrials and banking sectors together accounted for more than 57% of the trading volume. The domestic institutions turned bearish in the bourse, which saw a total of 52,026 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR481,342 changed hands across 18 deals. The Arab individuals were also seen net sellers, albeit at lower levels, in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. Total trade turnover was on the rise amidst lower volumes in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Total Return Index gained 0.35% to 25,050.9 points, the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.58% to 2,796.03 points and the All Share Index by 0.24% to 3,991.24 points. The consumer goods and services sector index shot up 1.58%, insurance (0.83%), telecom (0.71%) and banks and financial services (0.43%); while transport declined 1.9%, industrials (0.17%) and realty (0.11%). Major movers in the main market included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Zad Holding, Ahlibank Qatar, Woqod, Qatar National Cement, Qatar Islamic Bank, Qamco, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Vodafone Qatar and Ooredoo. Nevertheless, about 57% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Mannai Corporation, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Nakilat, Milaha, Gulf International Services, Alijarah Holding, Qatari German Medical Devices, QLM and Mazaya Qatar were among the losers in the main market. In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its scrips depreciate in value. The foreign institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR142.6mn compared to QR61.09mn on February 3. The foreign individuals’ net buying strengthened perceptibly to QR4.72mn against QR3.03mn the previous day. However, Qatari individuals’ net selling grew drastically to QR110.71mn compared to QR93.34mn on Wednesday. The domestic institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR33.67mn against net buyers of QR6.57mn on February 3. The Arab individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR1.44mn compared with net buyers of QR4.34mn the previous day. The Gulf funds turned net profit takers to the tune of QR0.85mn against net buyers of QR18.86mn on Wednesday. The Gulf individuals’ net selling expanded marginally to QR0.64mn compared to QR0.56mn on February 3. The Arab institutions continued to have no major net exposure for the fourth straight session. Total trade volume in the main market fell 12% to 159.53mn shares, while value rose 8% to QR657.74mn and transactions by 20% to 15,265. The market witnessed a 59% plunge in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 20.57mn equities, 62% in value to QR33.09mn and 21% in deals to 1,189. The transport sector’s trade volume plummeted 25% to 4.62mn stocks, value by 37% to QR21.83mn and transactions by 23% to 647. There was 23% shrinkage in the industrials sector’s trade volume to 51.78mn shares, 28% in value to QR150.83mn and deals by 17% to 3,355. The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume tanked 17% to 15.97mn equities, whereas value expanded 8% to QR51.43mn and transactions by 14% to 1,172. However, the telecom sector’s volume more than tripled to 21.99mn stocks and value more than doubled to QR80.74mn on more than doubled transactions to 1,788. The insurance sector reported 55% surge in trade volume to 5.35mn shares, value by 57% to QR15.42mn and deals by 56% to 669. The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume soared 44% to 39.26mn equities, value by 63% to QR304.4mn and transactions by 58% to 6,445. In the venture market, volumes were up 1.27% to 1.6mn stocks, value by 5.01% to QR14.87mn and deals by 10.18% to 660.    

The general cargo handling through Qatar's three ports – Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais – witnessed a robust double-digit growth year-on-year in January 2022 despite increased restrictions due to Omicron variant of Covid-19. The general cargo handling registered a 10.03% year-on-year surge to 201,751 freight tonnes in January 2022. In comparison to December 2021 levels, the cargo handling more than doubled, said the statistics released by Mwani Qatar. The general cargo movement through Hamad Port stood at 147,790 freight tonnes of break-bulk and 51,250 freight tonnes of bulk in the review period. QTerminals handles the break-bulk cargo in Hamad Port through the general cargo (GC) terminal, whose area is 190,268sq m and the throughput capacity is 6.3mn freight tonnes. The container handling through the three ports stood at 118,173 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), which fell 14.06% and 10.02% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively in January 2022. Hamad Port – which features an intermodal transport network that offers direct and indirect shipping services to more than 100 destinations, facilitating efficient transportation and logistics services locally and abroad – alone handled 117,383 TEUs in the period in review. QTerminals recently tweeted that Hamad Port had seen the largest single day container handling of 13,982 TEUs in January. The GC terminal had also achieved a new milestone by handling a heavy cargo weighing 96 tonnes safely and successfully using two mobile harbour cranes (MHC) in tandem lift mode. The country's merchandise trade has been showing resilience; indicating Doha’s maritime sector holds promising potential for the logistics and other support services segments as well as for the special zones within the periphery. During the period in review, the number of ships calling on the three ports stood at 228, which witnessed 16.18% and 10.59% shrinkage year-on-year and month-on-month respectively. 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 – had seen 117 ship calls in January 2022. The ports handled a total of 5,733 vehicles (RORO), which witnessed 19.93% and 13.96% decline on yearly and monthly basis respectively in the review period. Hamad Port alone handled as many as 5,708 vehicles in January 2022. The clearing of vehicle-related processes have been on the rise, of late, especially on account of demand generation in the new private vehicles and heavy equipment segments. The three ports had handled 31,176 livestock in January this year, which plunged 47.91% year-on-year but saw a 59.11% surge month-on-month. The building materials handled through the three ports stood at 50,306 tonnes, which shrank 6.39% and 18.53% respectively on yearly and monthly basis in January 2022.

The Qatar Stock Exchange Tuesday inched near 12,600 levels, mainly on the back of strong demand for the real estate and transport sectors. The domestic institutions were seen bullish as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 74 points or 0.59% higher at 12,572.55 points, recovering from an intraday low of 12,518 points. The Arab individuals turned net buyers in the market, whose year-to-date gains stood at 8.14%. More than 68% of the traded constituents extended gains in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw more than QR3bn or 0.42% increase to QR721.51bn, mainly on the back of midcap segments. The foreign institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity in the market, where the industrials, realty and banking sectors together accounted for more than 73% of the trading volume. The Gulf institutions also continued to be net buyers but with lesser vigour in the bourse, which saw a total of 32,273 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR317,984 changed hands across 10 deals. The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the main barometer in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. Total trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Total Return Index gained 0.59% to 24,888.12 points, Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.7% to 2,760.33 points and All Share Index by 0.52% to 3,950.58 points. The transport sector index shot up 2.9%, industrials (0.99%), real estate (0.63%), consumer goods and services (0.43%), insurance (0.27%) and banks and financial services (0.13%); while telecom declined 0.13%. Major movers in the main market included Qatar National Cement, Al Khaleej Takaful, Ahlibank Qatar, Nakilat, Inma Holding, QIIB, Medicare Group, Widam Food, Qatar Electricity and Water, Aamal Company, Gulf International Services, Qamco, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Milaha and Gulf Warehousing. In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw their shares extend gains. Nevertheless, Dlala, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Mannai Corporation, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Qatari German Medical Devices and Ooredoo were among the losers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its scrips depreciate in value. The domestic institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR7.1mn compared with net sellers of QR66.96mn yesterday. The Arab individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR6.18mn against net profit takers of QR3.15mn on Monday. However, Qatari individuals’ net selling grew drastically to QR65.13mn compared to QR37.47mn the previous day. The foreign individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR7.58mn against net buyers of QR2.97mn yesterday. The Gulf individuals were net profit takers to the extent of QR2.04mn compared with net buyers of QR2mn on Monday. The foreign institutions’ net buying shrank substantially to QR53mn against QR92.47mn the previous day. The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR8.47mn compared to QR10.14mn yesterday. The Arab institutions continued to have no major net exposure for the second straight session. Total trade volume in the main market fell 6% to 189.18mn shares, value by 1% to QR583.3mn and transactions by 7% to 12,944. The telecom sector’s volume plummeted 41% to 3.77mn equities, value by 42% to QR14.68mn and deals by 50% to 398. The consumer goods and services sector saw 39% plunge in trade volume to 28.15mn stocks, 41% in value to QR67.29mn and 34% in transactions to 1,557. The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume tanked 35% to 34.5mn shares, value by 11% to QR168.54mn and deals by 34% to 4,964. There was 22% shrinkage in the insurance sector’s trade volume to 3.94mn equities, and 14% in value to QR12.93mn but on 8% increase in transactions to 379. However, the transport sector’s trade volume soared 59% to 14.79mn stocks, value by 33% to QR71.91mn and deals by 28% to 1,253. The industrials sector reported a 28% surge in trade volume to 69.43mn shares, 34% in value to QR200.86mn and 14% in transactions to 3,758. The real estate sector’s trade volume shot up 25% to 34.62mn equities and value by 13% to QR47.08mn; whereas deals shrank 31% to 635. In the venture market, volumes decreased 74.48% to 1.1mn stocks, value by 74.51% to QR9.32mn and transactions by 34.72% to 532.    

The Qatar Stock Exchange Monday saw about 72% of the traded constituents extend gains; yet it could not overall sustain the levels above 12,500 points. The foreign institutions were seen increasingly net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled mere 0.03% higher at 12,498.2 points, although it remained above the 12,500 levels for most part of the second half. The insurance, consumer goods, industrials and telecom counters witnessed higher than the average demand in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 7.5%. The Gulf institutions and foreign individuals were also increasingly into net buying in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR65mn or 0.09% increase to QR718.09bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments. The local retail investors’ weakened net selling also had its influence in the market, where the industrials and banking sectors together accounted for more than 53% of the trading volume. The Arab individuals continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the bourse, which saw a total of 48,112 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR519,628 changed hands across 12 deals. The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the main barometer in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. Total trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Total Return Index was up 0.03% to 24,740.94 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.15% to 2,741.24 points; while the All Share Index was down 0.02% to 3,950.11 points. The insurance sector index shot up 1.32%, consumer goods and services (0.77%), industrials (0.6%), telecom (0.55%) and transport (0.01%); while real estate declined 1% and banks and financial services 0.41%. Major movers in the main market included Al Khaleej Takaful, Inma Holding, Dlala, Mannai Corporation, Qatari Investors Group, Alijarah Holding, Qatar Oman Investment, Aamal Company, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qamco, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, QLM, Mazaya Qatar and Ezdan. In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their shares appreciate in value. Nevertheless, Doha Bank, Barwa, Qatar National Cement, Qatari German Medical Devices, QNB, Al Meera, United Development Company and Milaha were among the losers in the main market. The foreign institutions’ net buying increased markedly to QR92.47mn compared to QR66.27mn on January 30. The Gulf institutions’ net buying strengthened substantially to QR10.14mn against QR0.33mn the previous day. The foreign individuals’ net buying rose perceptibly to QR2.97mn compared to QR1.77mn on Sunday. The Gulf individuals’ net buying expanded marginally to QR2mn against QR1.81mn on January 30. Qatari individuals’ net selling declined noticeably to QR37.47mn compared to QR45.72mn the previous day. The Arab individuals’ net profit booking fell marginally to QR3.15mn against QR3.37mn on Sunday. However, the domestic institutions’ net selling shot up markedly to QR66.96mn compared to QR20.64mn on January 30. The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net profit takers of QR0.44mn the previous day. Total trade volume in the main market rose 64% to 202.11mn shares, value by 21% to QR589.51mn and transactions by 83% to 13,989. The telecom sector’s volume almost quadrupled to 6.39mn equities and value grew almost five-fold to QR25.23mn on more than tripled deals to 796. The real estate sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 27.67mn stocks and value also more than doubled to QR41.67mn on almost doubled transactions to 925. The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 46.51mn shares, value soared 76% to QR114.2mn and deals by 85% to 2,354. The industrials sector reported a 78% surge in trade volume to 54.29mn equities and 35% in value to QR150.27mn on more than doubled transactions to 3,307. The insurance sector’s trade volume shot up 40% to 5.04mn stocks, value by 46% to QR15.1mn and deals by 86% to 351. The banks and financial services sector saw a 21% expansion in trade volume to 52.9mn shares but on 13% contraction in value to QR188.85mn despite 49% higher transactions at 5,279. However, the transport sector’s trade volume tanked 14% to 9.31mn equities and value by 14% to QR54.19mn; whereas deals zoomed 70% to 977. In the venture market, volumes expanded 67.05% to 4.31mn stocks and value by 88.55% to QR36.56mn on almost tripled transactions to 815.    

Qatar’s industrial sector witnessed significant year-on-year price pressure, especially in its hydrocarbons and certain manufactured businesses as basic chemicals and refined petroleum products, in December 2021, according to the official estimates. The country's producers' price index (PPI), which is almost equal to the global energy price index as per Qatar Economic Outlook, shot up 82.8% year-on-year, but fell 1.3% on a monthly basis in the review period, said the figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA). The PSA had released a new PPI series in late 2015. With a base of 2013, it draws on an updated sampling frame and new weights. The previous sampling frame dates from 2006, when the Qatari economy was much smaller than today and the range of products made domestically much narrower. The hardening of the global crude oil and industrial input prices had its reflection in the PPI. The mining PPI, which carries the maximum weight of 72.7%, reported a 90.8% surge year-on-year in December 2021 as the average selling price of crude petroleum and natural gas was seen soaring 91.2%; even as that of stone, sand and clay declined 1.2%. The mining PPI shrank 2.3% on a monthly basis in December 2021 on the back of a 2.3% fall in the average selling price of crude petroleum and natural gas but there was a 1.1% jump in stone, sand and clay. The manufacturing sector PPI, which has a weight of 26.8% in the basket, zoomed 69.8% year-on-year in December 2021 on the back of a 131.8% increase in the average price of basic chemicals, 62.3% in refined petroleum products, 45.1% in basic metals, 11.3% in rubber and plastics products, 8.9% in paper and paper products, 2.9% in cement and other non-metallic mineral products, 1.1% in grain mill and other products and 0.6% in dairy products. Nevertheless, there was a 2.9% decline in the average selling price of other chemical products and fibres, 1.3% in beverages and 0.9% in juices. The manufacturing sector PPI had seen a monthly marginal 0.6% rise in December 2021 as the average selling price of basic chemicals rose 8.4%, basic metals (2%), dairy products (1.1%), juices (0.2%) and grain mill and other products (0.1%). However, there was 2.7% shrinkage in the average selling price of refined petroleum products, 1.2% in rubber and plastics products and 0.4% in cement and other non-metallic mineral products. The utilities group, which has a mere 0.5% weightage in the PPI basket, saw its index soar 5.6% year-on-year because of a 17.7% increase in the average selling price of water whereas that of electricity shrank 3% in December 2021. The index had seen a 7.9% growth month-on-month in the review period as the average selling price of electricity and water was seen rising 14.7% and 1% respectively.    

The Qatar Stock Exchange on Sunday saw buying interests in four of the seven sectors but overall it settled about 14 points lower to close below 12,500 levels. The foreign institutions continued to be net buyers but with lesser intensity as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.11% lower at 12,495 points, although it recovered from an intraday low of 12,423 points. The Arab institutions were seen net profit takers in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 7.48%. The telecom and consumer goods counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the bourse, whose capitalisation nevertheless saw QR40mn or 0.06% increase to QR717.44bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments. The domestic funds also continued to be net profit takers but with lesser vigour in the market, where the industrials, banking and consumer goods sectors together accounted for more than 70% of the trading volume. The foreign individuals’ weakened net buying also had it influence in the bourse, which saw a total of 39,864 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR282,589 changed hands across 19 deals. The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the main barometer in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. Total trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Total Return Index fell 0.11% to 24,734.61 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.28% to 2,737.08 points; while All Share Index was up 0.03% to 3,950.79 points. The telecom sector index shrank 0.44%, consumer goods and services (0.32%) and banks and financial services (0.09%); while insurance gained 0.78%, transport (0.35%), real estate (0.3%) and industrials (0.28%). More than 52% of the traded constituents in the main market were in the red and included Alijarah Holding, Widam Food, Masraf Al Rayan, Qatari Investors Group, Salam International Investment, Doha Bank, Gulf International Services, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Barwa and Vodafone Qatar. In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares depreciate in value. Nevertheless, Mannai Corporation, Qatar Electricity and Water, Dlala, Qatar Insurance, United Development Company, Ahlibank Qatar, QNB and Milaha were among the gainers in the main market. In the juniour bourse, Mekdam Holding saw its shares extend gains. The foreign institutions’ net buying declined significantly to QR66.27mn compared to QR139.11mn on January 27. The Arab institutions were seen net sellers to the tune of QR0.44mn against no major net exposure the previous trading day. The foreign individuals’ net buying shrank markedly to QR1.77mn compared to QR3.17mn last Thursday. However, the Gulf individuals’ net buying increased perceptibly to QR1.81mn against QR0.47mn on January 27. Qatari individuals’ net selling shrank drastically to QR45.72mn compared to QR96.24mn the previous trading day. The domestic institutions’ net selling eased markedly to QR20.64mn against QR27.44mn last Thursday. The Arab individuals’ net profit booking fell notably to QR3.37mn compared to QR4.87mn on January 27. The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR0.33mn against net sellers of QR14.2mn the previous trading day. Total trade volume in the main market fell 22% to 123.59mn shares, value by 22% to QR488.31mn and transactions by 39% to 7,658. The telecom sector’s volume plummeted 73% to 1.68mn equities, value by 75% to QR5.18mn and deals by 69% to 228. The market witnessed 56% plunge in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 10.97mn stocks, 68% in value to QR17.67mn and 53% in transactions to 486. The industrials sector’s trade volume tanked 40% to 30.46mn shares, value by 29% to QR111.1mn and deals by 59% to 1,367. The consumer goods and services sector saw 18% contraction in trade volume to 22.45mn equities, 11% in value to QR64.96mn and 20% in transactions to 1,274. However, the insurance sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 3.59mn stocks and value also more than doubled to QR10.34mn on 3% jump in deals to 189. There was 63% surge in the transport sector’s trade volume to 10.78mn shares and 76% in value to QR63.08mn but on 30% shrinkage in transactions to 574. The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume jumped 7% to 43.67mn equities; whereas value declined 22% to QR215.99mn and deals by 26% to 3,540. In the venture market, volumes grew more than 27-fold to 2.58mn stocks and value by about 29-fold to QR19.39mn and transactions by about seven-fold to 284.    

With global aviation finding aircraft leasing getting prominence over ownership and in view of Qatar's burgeoning aviation industry, the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) has said its attractive ecosystem, business-friendly regulations, and proximity to Qatar Airways, allow lessors to maximise the current market opportunities. "For the first time in aviation history the number of leased planes exceed those owned by operators, which was a result of airlines’ financial constraints...The current market backdrop is attractive to lessors, however the variety of opportunities before them differ greatly," the QFC said in its report 'QFC: A Compelling Destination for Aircraft Leasing Companies'. In 2021, aircraft lessors, buoyed by access to inexpensive financing, drove global purchasing activity and accounted for nearly 60% of all airplane deliveries. Highlighting that the leasing companies would be wise to place their assets with airlines that are financially secure like Qatar Airways; the report said “these lessors would be encouraged by the QFC’s attractive ecosystem, business-friendly regulations, and proximity to Qatar Airways.” Prior to the onset of Covid in 2019, lessors only accounted for about 45% of the owners of the total global fleet, but that rose to above 50% in 2021 during which time aircraft deliveries were recovering, said the report, authored by Thaddeus Malesa, senior adviser for Economics and Research at the QFC. Global aviation continued to be severely disrupted throughout 2021 due to the Covid-19; however lessors filled the gap to enable a 63% year-on-year expansion of overall aircraft deliveries over the first three quarters of the year, the report said. Over the first nine months of 2021, global aircraft deliveries totalled 761 versus 467 in the same period of the previous year when the pandemic lockdowns were in effect, it said. While all global airlines faced significant operational challenges over the past two years, the use of their fleets has varied considerably – with Qatar Airways near the top of the range, the report said. Qatar Airways continued to service a variety of destinations and pivoted to carrying more cargo, whereas most passenger-focused airlines posted cancellations of flights over several months, it said, adding higher global demand for air cargo led the national carrier to convert six passenger planes to freighters, resulting in its cargo division handle 2.73mn tonnes of cargo in the 2020/21 fiscal year, or 4.6% more than a year prior. "Qatar’s economy is set to expand dramatically over the coming decade, driven by a series of business investments in key sectors, including aviation. The QFC’s attractive ecosystem, business-friendly regulations, best-in-class tax regime, along with its proximity to one of the world’s premier airlines with set global expansion plans, will be an ideal platform for global aviation lessors,” said QFC Authority chief executive Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida. Qatar Airways has ambitious plans for further expansion of both cargo and passenger flights, which in the short run are hampered by the grounding of its 20 A350s, the report said. Qatar Airways will soon own 60% of and operate Rwanda’s Bugesera International Airport that will have capacity to accommodate 7mn passengers as well as a dedicated cargo terminal in its first phase in 2022, after which it will cater to 14mn passengers in the second phase in 2032, it said. The QFC report said Qatar Airways’ growth plan in East Africa looks set to capitalise on the recent trends, with African air freight growing at the fastest comparative regional pace at 32.8% year-on-year in September 2021 and yet accounts for only 2% of the world’s share. "Arguably a significant impediment to realising this and other elements of Qatar Airways’ strategic expansion plans is access to quality airplanes – an opportunity that could be bridged by savvy lessors," the report said.    

Customers’ deposits of commercial banks in Qatar witnessed a 7.58% year-on-year expansion to QR974.11bn in December 2021, according the central bank data. The total customers’ deposits accounted for more than 53% of the commercial banks’ liabilities during the review period, Qatar Central Bank figures revealed. Of the total customer deposits, the private sector contributed QR620.83bn or 64% of the total in December 2021. The private sector deposits had seen 7.38% annual growth in December 2021. Public sector deposits saw a faster 10.3% expansion year-on-year to QR306.88bn or 32% of the total customer deposits in December 2021; whereas deposits from non-banking financial institutions witnessed a 4.21% decline to QR46.4bn or about 5% of the total customer deposits. Domestic deposits rose 5.01% to QR693.44bn, which accounted for 71% of the total deposits; and overseas deposits grew faster at 14.48% to QR280.67bn or 29% of the total. The domestic deposits of the private and public sector were seen expanding 2.6% and 9.64% to QR391.14bn and QR288.68bn respectively, while those of the non-banking financial institutions declined 13.84% to QR13.63bn in the review period. Within the domestic sector, the deposits of the real estate segment more than doubled year-on-year to QR11.79bn or 2% of the total domestic deposits, those of government shot up 31.01% to QR100.38bn (14%), industrials by 29.7% to QR53.89bn (8%), trading by 8.8% to QR33.26bn (5%) and personal by 1.28% to QR217.53bn (31%); whereas those of contracting declined 11.61% to QR11.11bn (2%) and services by 3.62% to QR238.08bn (34%) in the review period. Within the domestic sector, the deposits of semi government institutions were seen expanding 19.54% year-on-year to QR36.64bn, which accounted for 5% of the total domestic deposits. The local and foreign currency deposits of the semi-government institutions rose 33.13% and 7.7% to QR19.01bn and QR17.63bn respectively in December 2021. The deposits of private sector corporates rose 4.09% year-on-year to QR171.87bn, which constituted about one-fourth of the total domestic deposits in the review period. The local and foreign currency of the private sector corporates expanded 2.64% and 6.8% to QR110.29bn and QR61.58bn respectively in December 2021. The deposits of the government institutions stood at QR151.65bn or about 22% of the total domestic deposits in December 2021. Such deposits however declined 2.8% year-on-year in the review period. The local currency deposits of the government institutions was down 12.15% year-on-year to QR77.86bn; whereas those in foreign currency were up 9.5% to QR73.79bn in the review period. Similarly, the local currency deposits of the non-banking financial institutions fell 20.42% year-on-year to QR8.91bn; while those in foreign currency shot up 26.88% to QR4.72bn in December 2021.    

The Qatar Stock Exchange witnessed strong buying in the transport, consumer goods and telecom counters; yet it edged down marginally this week, which otherwise saw global markets on a jittery on expectations of rate hike in the US. The foreign institutions’ increased net buying notwithstanding, the 20-stock Qatar Index was down 0.03% this week which saw Masraf Al Rayan report a net profit of QR1.72bn in 2021. The insurance, real estate, industrials and banking counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure this week which saw QIIB register QR1bn net profit in 2021. About 64% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market this week, which saw Gulf Warehousing record net profit of QR235.77mn in 2021. The domestic institutions were increasingly into net profit booking this week, which saw Masraf Al Rayan sponsored exchange traded fund QATR report net asset value of QR553.65mn in 2021. The Arab individuals were bearish this week, which saw Barwa’s intention to sell its stake in Kuwait’s Al Imtiaz Investment Group Company. The Islamic equities were seen declining faster than the main barometer this week, which saw Nakilat take delivery and management of the fourth newbuild liquefied natural gas carrier. The Gulf funds turned net profit takers this week which saw a total of 129,479 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange traded funds QETF valued at QR1.58mn change hands across 34 transactions. The local retail investors continued to be net sellers but with lesser vigour this week, which saw as many as 85,905 QATR worth QR234,046 trade across 31 deals. Market capitalisation saw QR64mn or 0.09% increase to QR717.04bn, mainly on microcap segments this week which saw the industrials, banking and consumer goods sectors together constitute more than 70% of the total trade volume. The insurance sector index shrank 0.9%, realty (0.44%), industrials (0.21%) and banks and financial services (0.18%); while transport shot up 3.57%, consumer goods and services (1.39%) and telecom (0.93%) this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. Major shakers in the main market included Qatari German Medical Devices, Al Khaleej Takaful, Inma Holding, Qatar Oman Investment, Aamal Company, Qatar Islamic Bank, QIIB, Masraf Al Rayan, Dlala, Widam Food, Baladna, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Qamco, Ezdan and Gulf International Services this week which saw no trading of treasury bills. Nevertheless, major gainers in the main market included Mannai Corporation, Milaha, Qatar National Cement, Commercial Bank, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Woqod, Barwa, Vodafone Qatar and Nakilat. In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their stocks appreciate in value this week, which saw Qatar Economic Outlook expect the country’s overall private consumption expenditure to jump 1% this year on account of the FIFA World Cup. The domestic funds’ net selling increased drastically to QR120.07mn compared to QR64.29mn the week ended January 20. The Arab individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR2.92mn against net buyers of QR14.47mn the previous week. The Gulf institutions were profit takers to the extent of QR7.15mn against net buyers of QR93.42mn a week ago. The Arab funds were net sellers to the tune of QR0.11mn compared with no major net exposure the week ended January 20. The foreign individuals’ net buying declined markedly to QR0.24mn against QR4.24mn the previous week. The Gulf individuals’ net buying eased marginally to QR0.62mn compared to QR1.53mn a week ago. However, the foreign funds’ net buying rose notably to QR397.37mn against QR353.09mn the week ended January 20. Qatari individuals’ net selling weakened considerably to QR247.98mn compared to QR402.47mn the previous week. Total trade turnover and volume were on the decline in both the main and venture markets this week, which saw the official data suggest that Qatar’s trade surplus almost triple to QR25.68bn in December 2021. The industrials sector accounted for 30% of the total trade volume, banks and financial services (20%), consumer goods and services (20%), realty (18%), transport (7%), telecom (4%) and insurance (1%) this week. In terms of value, the banks and financial services sector’s share was 34% of the total, industrials (26%), consumer goods and services (16%), transport (11%), real estate (9%), telecom (3%) and insurance (1%) this week. Total trade volume in the market fell 11% to 848.54mn shares, value by 13% to QR2.9bn and transactions by 5% to 63,272. There was a 50% plunge in the insurance sector’s trade volume to 11.47mn equities, 52% in value to QR30.05mn and 25% in deals to 1,267. The real estate sector’s trade volume plummeted 35% to 148.85mn stocks, value by 25% to QR250.57mn and transactions by 25% to 5,066. The banks and financial sector’s trade volume saw 33% contraction to 168.6mn shares, 37% in value to QR998.98mn and 18% in deals to 25,032. However, the transport sector’s trade volume soared 43% to 57.23mn equities, value by 55% to QR306.73mn and transactions by 41% to 4,271. The consumer goods and services sector reported 24% surge in trade volume to 167.97mn stocks, 81% in value to QR469.71mn and 50% in deals to 9,562. The industrials sector’s trade volume was up 9% to 258.55mn shares, value by 3% to QR749.93mn and transactions by less than 1% to 15,143. The market witnessed 2% jump in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 35.85mn equities but on 37% shrinkage in value to QR94.57mn and 16% in deals to 2,931. In the venture market, trade volume slipped 25.22% to 0.72mn stocks, value by 24.71% to QR4.51mn and transactions by 35.41% to 363.    

The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday gained more than 27 points to once again cross the 12,500 levels, mainly on the back of strong buying interests of the foreign institutions. The telecom, industrials and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.22% higher at 12,508.64 points, recovering from an intraday low of 12,472 points. The foreign funds were also seen increasingly into net buying in the market, whose year-to-date gins were at 7.59%. The Gulf individuals were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels, in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw more than QR1bn or 0.17% increase to QR717.04bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments. The domestic funds’ weakened net selling also had its influence on the market, where the industrials and banking sectors together accounted for about 58% of the trading volume. The Arab retail investors continued to be net profit takers but with lesser vigour in the bourse, which saw a total of 32,408 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR327,927 changed hands across nine deals. The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. Total trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Total Return Index gained 0.22% to 24,761.61 points, the All Share Index by 0.18% to 3,949.45 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.11% to 2,744.67 points. The telecom sector index expanded 0.46%, industrials (0.4%), banks and financial services (0.23%) and transport (0.13%); while real estate declined 0.86%, insurance (0.26%) and consumer goods and services (0.1%). Major gainers in the main market included Qatari German Medical Devices, Milaha, Doha Insurance, Qatar Islamic Bank, QIIB, Investment Holding Group, QNB, Industries Qatar, Vodafone Qatar and Ooredoo. In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their shares appreciate in value. Nevertheless, more than 60% of the traded constituents in the main market were in the red and included Inma Holding, United Development Company, Al Khaleej Takaful, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Salam International Investment, Doha Bank, Aamal Company, Mazaya Qatar and Nakilat. The foreign institutions’ net buying expanded significantly to QR139.11mn compared to QR92.15mn on January 26. The foreign individuals’ net buying grew perceptibly to QR3.17mn against QR2.87mn the previous day. The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.47mn compared with net sellers of QR1.01mn on Wednesday. The domestic institutions’ net selling decreased substantially to QR27.44mn against QR44.65mn on January 26. The Arab individuals’ net profit booking fell markedly to QR4.87mn compared to QR11.79mn the previous day. However, Qatari individuals’ net selling strengthened drastically to QR96.24mn against QR49.35mn on Wednesday. The Gulf institutions were net sellers to the extent of QR14.2mn compared with net buyers of QR11.77mn on January 26. The Arab institutions had no major net exposure. Total trade volume in the main market fell 20% to 158.63mn shares, value by 10% to QR622.51mn and transactions by 15% to 12,482. The transport sector reported a 66% plunge in trade volume to 6.61mn equities, 67% in value to QR35.81mn and 25% in deals to 825. The telecom sector’s volume plummeted 53% to 6.28mn stocks, value by 38% to QR20.93mn and transactions by 18% to 724. The insurance sector’s trade volume tanked 44% to 1.78mn shares, value by 43% to QR4.71mn and deals by 12% to 184. The consumer goods and services sector saw a 44% contraction in trade volume to 27.32mn equities, 50% in value to QR72.64mn and 33% in transactions to 1,600. The industrials sector’s trade volume was down 6% to 50.68mn stocks, while value rose 1% to QR156.49mn and deals by 14% to 3,302. However, the market witnessed a 14% expansion in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 24.99mn shares and 46% in value to QR55.13mn but on 7% shrinkage in transactions to 1,045. The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume jumped 10% to 40.97mn equities and value by 37% to QR276.8mn; while deals dipped 21% to 4,802. In the venture market, volumes declined 26.72% to 93,752 stocks, whereas value grew 12.54% to QR0.68mn and transactions by 64% to 41.    

More-than-doubled exports of petroleum gases and a robust double digit growth in the shipments of crude as well as non-crude led Qatar's trade surplus almost triple year-on-year to QR25.68bn in December 2021, according to the official statistics. The rebound in the country's merchandise trade surplus has been enabled by robust expansion in the shipments to Asian countries, despite the scare of Omicron variant of the Covid-19 pandemic, during the period in review, according to figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority. Qatar's trade surplus showed a 4.7% month-on-month jump in December 2021 as crude exports faster than the other commodities. The country's total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) were QR35.6bn, showing a stupendous 107.8% surge year-on-year and 3.8% compared to November 2021. In December 2021, Qatar's shipments to China amounted to QR7.14bn or 20.1% of the total exports of the country, followed by South Korea QR5.13bn (14.4%), India QR4.95bn (13.9%), Japan QR4.15bn (11.6%) and Singapore QR1.74bn (4.9%). On a yearly basis, Qatar's exports to China and South Korea more than doubled and those to India soared 74.89%, Japan 54.34% and Singapore 12.97% in the review period. On a monthly basis, Qatar's exports to South Korea shot up 44.19%, India by 41.39%, China by 40.55% and Singapore by 4.31%; whereas those to Japan declined 7.47% in December 2021. The exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons shot up 147.1% to QR23.22bn, non-crude by 77.9% to QR2.73bn, crude by 47.9% to QR4.44bn and other commodities by 83.9% to QR4.24bn. On a monthly basis, the exports of crude shot up 8.8%, petroleum gases by 3.7% and other non-specified commodities by 1%; even as non-crude shrank 4.8% in December 2021. Petroleum gases constituted 67.07% of the exports of domestic products in December 2021 compared to 57.88% a year ago period; followed by crude 12.82% (18.47%), non-crude 7.89% (9.42%) and other commodities 12.25% (14.16%). Qatar's total imports (valued at cost insurance and freight) amounted to QR9.93bn, which showed 16.2% and 1.7% increase year-on-year and month-on-month in December 2021. The country's imports from China stood at QR1.75bn, which accounted for 17.7% of the total imports; followed by the US at QR1.35bn (13.6%), the UK QR0.61bn (6.1%), India QR0.59bn (5.9%) and Indonesia QR0.54bn (5.4%). On a yearly basis, Qatar's imports from Indonesia were seen growing about 19-fold, those from the UK soared 63.98%, China by 34.64%, the US by 15.24% and India by 12.48% in December 2021. On a monthly basis, the country's imports from Indonesia more than quadrupled, and those from the UK expanded 51.36%, the US by 23.15% and India by 8.86%; whereas those from China shrank 4.62% in the review period. In December 2021, the "Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets; parts thereof" group was at the top of the import portfolio with value totalling QR0.5bn, showing a yearly increase of 15.6%. In the second place was "Motor Cars and other Motor Vehicles for the Transport of Persons" with QR0.4bn in value, showing an increase of 84.9% and in third place was "Part of balloons: parts of aircraft, spacecraft" with QR0.3bn, an increase of 23.4%.    

The Qatar Stock Exchange Wednesday fell below 12,500 levels despite buying interests in the transport and consumer goods counters. Notwithstanding the increase in net buying interests of foreign funds, the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 67 points or 0.54% lower to close at 12,481.33, although it touched an intraday high of 12,561. The Gulf funds and foreign individuals were seen net buyers in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 7.36%. The domestic funds were increasingly into net selling in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw about QR2bn or 0.28% decline to QR715.79bn, mainly on the back of small cap segments. More than 71% of the traded constituents were in the red in the market, where the industrials and consumer goods sectors together accounted for about 52% of the trading volume. The local retail investors continued to be net profit takers but with lesser vigour in the bourse, which saw a total of 48,150 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR403,540 changed hands across 18 deals. The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. Total trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Total Return Index shrank 0.54% to 24,707.54 points, the All Share Index by 0.3% to 3,942.27 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.61% to 2,741.63 points. The industrials sector index declined 0.61%, insurance (0.58%) and banks and financial services (0.42%); while transport gained 0.78%, consumer goods and services (0.41%) and telecom (0.08%). The real estate index was flat. Major shakers in the main market included Qatari German Medical Devices, Qatar Oman Investment, Aamal Company, Investment Holding Group, Inma Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, QIIB, Masraf Al Rayan, Dlala, Baladna, Qatar Electricity and Water, Gulf International Services, Qamco, QLM and Mazaya Qatar. In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares lose value. Nevertheless, Mannai Corporation, Milaha, Zad Holding, Medicare Group and Vodafone Qatar were among the gainers in the main market. In the junior bourse, Mekdam Holding saw its scrips appreciate in value. The domestic institutions’ net profit booking increased significantly to QR44.65mn against QR22.22mn on January 25. The Arab individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR11.79mn compared with net buyers of QR0.54mn on Tuesday. The Gulf individuals’ net selling strengthened perceptibly to QR1.01mn against QR0.25mn the previous day. However, the foreign funds’ net buying grew markedly to QR92.15mn compared to QR86.98mn on Tuesday. The Gulf institutions were net buyers to the extent of QR11.77mn against net sellers of QR8.54mn on Tuesday. The foreign individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.87mn compared with net sellers of QR2.9mn the previous day. The Qatari individuals’ net profit booking weakened notably to QR49.35mn against QR53.51mn on Tuesday. The Arab institutions had no major net exposure compared with net profit takers of 0.11mn on Tuesday. Total trade volume in the main market rose 5% to 197.47mn shares and value by 11% to QR690.99mn, while transactions fell 2% to 14,688. The telecom sector’s volume more than doubled to 13.47mn equities and value almost doubled to QR34.03mn on a 58% increase in deals to 884. The insurance sector’s trade volume almost doubled to 3.17mn stocks and value also almost doubled to QR8.32mn on a 27% growth in transactions to 209. The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume soared 36% to 48.36mn shares, value by 61% to QR144.5mn and deals by 6% to 2,399. The transport sector reported a 27% surge in trade volume to 19.58mn equities and 33% in value to QR108.6mn but on 3% decline in transactions to 1,100. The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume expanded 22% to 37.15mn stocks, while value was down 1% to QR201.88mn amidst 12% higher deals at 6,069. However, there was a 28% plunge in the industrials sector’s trade volume to 53.81mn shares, 17% in value to QR155.86mn and 17% in transactions to 2,900. The real estate sector’s trade volume tanked 14% to 21.94mn equities, 3% in value to QR37.8mn and 9% in deals to 1,127. In the venture market, volumes expanded 14.8% to 127,936 stocks, whereas value eased 17.28% to QR0.6mn and 70.24% in transactions to 25.

The impending FIFA World Cup is expected to lift Doha's overall private consumption expenditure by 1% this year in an optimistic scenario, according to the latest Qatar Economic Outlook (QEO). "There is a possibility that it (private consumption expenditure) will achieve a growth of 1% for the optimistic scenario due to the expectations of the increase in consumption resulting from hosting the 2022 World Cup, before declining by 1% in 2023," said the QEO 2021-23. The level of final consumption expenditures of households (private) have already improved from -10.5% in 2020 to -6.4% during the first half of 2021. It is supposed to recover further during the second half of 2021, thanks to the phasing out of the Covid-19 containment measures, which will lead to an improvement in its rate of change from -10.5% in 2020 to -2% by the end of 2021 in the base scenario, rising to -1% in the medium scenario, and achieving a full recovery of 100% in the optimistic scenario, the outlook said. It is also expected to move forward towards achieving the same consumption pattern in 2022 for the base and middle scenario, it added. One of the most influential factors affecting private consumption expenditure is the likely number of prospective consumers during the coming years; in PSA’s modelling, the population level has been adjusted for the three scenarios, on the basis that the population in the optimistic scenario matches with the population as determined by the 2020 census. According to recent population data for the first three quarters of 2021, the population within Qatar was 2.64mn compared to 2.85mn as per 2020 census. "This requires to make an assumption that the population will be ranged between those two figures during the next two years, because it is not known whether the seasonal departure for expatriate workers in the second half of 2020, was temporary, as it was before the coronavirus crisis, when the residents were travelling outside Qatar on tourist trips or visits to their home countries, or was the departure permanently due to job losses caused by the repercussions of Covid-19," the QEO said. The annual rate of change of government consumption expenditure is expected to continue achieving positive growth rates for the three scenarios during the period 2021-23, resulting from the increase in government expenditure to counter the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as having to meet the requirements of hosting the World Cup and its accompanying financial obligations. The public financial data for the first three quarters of 2021 showed that it increased by 1%, and consequently, the rate of change in government final consumption for 2021 is expected to maintain its positive growth rates from 4.4% in 2020, to 1.2% under the base scenario, to 1.6% under the middle scenario, and then to 2% under the optimistic scenario. Subsequently, in the World Cup year of 2022, it is expected to undergo a "significant" growth rate under the three scenarios, ranging between ranging between 6.3% and 7.7%, before declining somewhat in 2023 to achieve "moderate" growth rates in 2023, ranging between 2.9% and 4.1%.

The Qatar Stock Exchange Tuesday shrugged off the initial bearish overhang, due to apprehensions in the global market over the US interest rate hike indications, as it finally settled 25 points higher. The foreign institutions were seen increasingly into net buying as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.2% higher at 12,548.48 points, although it touched an intraday low of 12,390.79 points. The transport, telecom and banking counters witnessed higher than average demand in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 7.94%. The Arab individuals turned bullish, albeit at lower levels, in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR15mn or 0.02% jump to QR717.77bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments. Nevertheless, more than 59% of the traded constituents were in the red in the market, where the industrials and consumer goods sectors together accounted for more than 58% of the trading volume. The local retail investors were seen increasingly into net selling in the bourse, which saw a total of 30,955 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR321,465 changed hands across 10 deals. The Islamic index was seen gaining slower than the other indices in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. Total trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Total Return Index gained 0.2% to 24,840.47 points, All Share Index by 0.13% to 3,954.27 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.01% to 2,758.4 points. The transport sector index shot up 1.3%, telecom (0.3%) and banks and financial services (0.3%); while consumer goods and services declined 0.42%, industrials (0.35%), insurance (0.33%) and realty (0.09%). Major gainers in the main market included Qatar Islamic Bank, Milaha, Nakilat, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Al Meera Consumer Goods, Vodafone Qatar and Ooredoo. In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its shares gain. Nevertheless, Qatari German Medical Devices, Qatari Investors Group, Inma Holding, Qamco, Al Khaleej Takaful, Doha Bank, QIIB, Qatar Oman Investment, Salam International Investment, Widam Food, Baladna, Aamal Company, Mazaya Qatar, Ezdan and Gulf Warehousing were among the losers in the main market. In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares depreciate in value. The foreign institutions’ net buying increased considerably to QR86.98mn compared to QR48.13mn on January 24. The Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.54mn against net sellers of QR7.49mn the previous day. However, Qatari individuals’ net profit booking grew substantially to QR53.51mn compared to QR34.62mn on Monday. The domestic institutions’ net selling expanded significantly to QR22.22mn against QR1.58mn on January 24. The Gulf institutions’ net selling strengthened marginally to QR8.54mn compared to QR8.13mn the previous day. The foreign individuals turned net sellers to the extent of QR2.9mn against net buyers of QR2.37mn on Monday. The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR0.25mn compared with net buyers of QR1.32mn on January 24. The Arab funds turned net profit takers to the extent of 0.11mn against no major net exposure the previous day. Total trade volume in the main market rose 9% to 188.78mn shares, value by 10% to QR623.45mn and transactions by 13% to 14,297. The industrials sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 74.74mn equities, value soared 47% to QR187.37mn and deals by 26% to 3,506. The transport sector reported 48% surge in trade volume to 15.39mn stocks, 40% in value to QR81.81mn and transactions by 34% to 1,138. The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume was up 6% to 35.44mn shares, while value fell 7% to QR89.91mn despite 7% higher deals at 2,273. However, there was 51% plunge in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 25.57mn equities and 53% in value to QR38.88mn but on 45% increase in transactions to 1,234. The telecom sector’s volume plummeted 31% to 5.53mn stocks, while value rose 2% to QR17.46mn despite 5% higher deals at 558. The insurance sector’s trade volume tanked 26% to 1.64mn shares, value by 25% to QR4.34mn and transactions by 52% to 165. The banks and financial services sector saw 1% shrinkage in trade volume to 30.47mn equities but on 14% jump in value to QR203.68mn amidst 3% lower deals at 5,423. In the venture market, volumes expanded 19.36% to 111,443 stocks, value by 17.04% to QR0.73mn and transactions by 12% to 84.