Profit-booking, especially in transport and real estate counters, yesterday dragged the Qatar Exchange, a day after it opened the week on a stronger note.

Local retail investors were seen bearish, amid lower exposure, as the 20-stock Qatar Index (based on price data) fell 0.19% to 9,608.32 points.

The market, which is reportedly set to welcome initial public offerings from Qatar Petroleum subsidiaries, is up 14.95% year-to-date.

The market’s overall liquidity increased, mainly on substantially higher volumes at the banking and financial services counter.

About 57% of the traded stocks were in the red with major losers being QNB, Gulf International Services, Barwa, United Development Company, Mazaya Qatar, Nakilat and Milaha, even as Qatar Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank and Industries Qatar bucked the trend.

The 20-stock Total Return Index also shed 0.19% to 13,728.09 points, the All Share Index (with wider constituents) by 0.17% to 2,418.42 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index by 0.13% to 2,758.17 points.

All the three indices factored in dividend income as well.

Transport stocks plunged 1.23%, followed by realty (0.58%), insurance (0.43%), telecom (0.17%), banks and financial services (0.17%) and industrials (0.05%); while consumer goods gained 0.45%.

Total market capitalisation was down 0.11%, or QR56mn, to QR524.05bn. Small, mid and micro cap equities were seen depreciating; while large caps rose marginally.

Qatari individual investors were increasingly profit-takers as their net selling rose to QR14.37mn compared to QR7.32mn the previous day.

Domestic institutions continued to bearish, but with lesser vigour, as their net selling fell to QR0.26mn against QR0.39mn on Sunday.

However, foreign institutions turned marginally bullish as they were net buyers to the tune of QR1.39mn compared with net sellers of QR1.06mn the previous day.

Non-Qatari individuals were increasingly bullish as their net buying rose to QR13.46mn against QR8.74mn on Sunday.

Total trading volume gained 13% to 7.60mn stocks, value by 2% to QR283.44mn and transactions by 15% to 2,849.

The banking sector’s trading volume more than doubled to 5.35mn equities, value surged 75% to QR192.32mn and deals by 83% to 1,272.

There was a 2% rise in transport sector’ trading volume to 0.44mn stocks, while value fell 18% to QR10.03mn and transactions by 3% to 195.

However, the real estate sector’s trading volume plummeted 62% to 1mn shares, value by 62% to QR21.76mn and deals by 35% to 380.

The market witnessed 57% plunge in consumer goods sector’s trading volume to 0.25mn equities, 59% in value to QR11.46mn and 28% in transactions to 215.

The telecom sector’s trading volume tanked 41% to 0.23mn shares, value by 70% to QR13.30mn and deals by 4% to 276.

The industrials sector witnessed a 35% fall in trading volume to 0.32mn stocks, 4% in value to QR33.69mn and 1% in transactions to 485.

Although the insurance sector’s trading volume was flat at 0.03mn shares, value fell 46% to QR0.88mn. Deals expanded 30% to 26.