The QSE added about QR11bn in capitalisation yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

By Santhosh V Perumal/Business Reporter

Banking, real estate and industrial stocks yesterday lifted the Qatar Stock Exchange above the 13,350 level, amidst increased trading volumes.

Buying interests were squarely visible in large and mid-cap equities, leading to an addition of about QR11bn in capitalisation.

Foreign institutions continued to be bullish, but with lesser intensity, as the 20-stock Qatar Index (based on price data) jumped 2.63% to touch an all-time high of 13,350.54 points, ahead of the bourse entering the global index compiler Morgan Stanley Composite Index’s ‘emerging’ market from next week.

Opening strong, the market witnessed buying momentum for the next 60 minutes, after which mild profit-booking ensued for the next 15 minutes, but only to reverse the trend for the remaining session and the index settled above the 13,350 mark.

The index that tracks Shariah-principled stock was seen gaining faster than the other indices in the market, which is up 28.62% year-to-date.

Trading volume was skewed towards telecom and banks, real estate and telecom stocks.

The 20-stock Total Return Index gained 2.63% to 19,908.54 points, the All Share Index (with wider constituents) by 2.01% to 3,367.88 and the Al Rayan Islamic Index by 2.97% to 4,444.86.

All the three indices factored in dividend income as well.

Banks and financial services equities surged 2.91%, followed by realty (2.85%), industrials (2.2%), transport (0.89%), insurance (0.6%) and telecom (0.28%), while consumer goods shrank 2.23%.

More than 60% of the stocks extended gains with major movers being Industries Qatar, Masraf Al Rayan, Qatar Islamic Bank, Barwa, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Vodafone Qatar, Nakilat, Qatar Electricity and Water, Qatari Investors Group, United Development Company and Alijarah Holding.

However, Woqod, Gulf International Services, Aamal Company, Ezdan, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding and Salam International Investment were seen to lose the steam.

Vodafone Qatar, Masraf Al Rayan and Barwa were the most active in terms of volume and value.

Market capitalisation expanded 1.48% to QR735.33bn. Large, mid and micro cap stocks were seen gaining 2.84%, 1.68% and 0.35% respectively, while small caps fell 0.26%.

Foreign institutions’ net buying stood at QR110.23mn against QR267.06mn the previous trading day.

Qatari retail investors’ net selling fell to QR58.77mn compared to QR94.43mn last Thursday.

Domestic institutions’ net selling shrank to QR39.8mn against QR66.04mn the previous trading day.

Non-Qatari individual investors’ net profit-booking fell to QR11.67mn compared to QR106.71mn last Thursday.

Total trading volume was up 12% to 26.83mn stocks, value by 14% to QR1.33bn and transactions by 18% to 11,611.

The insurance sector’s trading volume more than doubled to 0.14mn equities and value also more than doubled to QR6.52mn on a 69% jump in deals to 130.

The banks and financial services sector reported a 46% surge in trading volume to 9.83mn shares, 46% in value to QR592.09mn and 49% in transactions to 4,518.

The real estate sector’s trading volume soared 40% to 8.64mn stocks, value by 60% to QR287.44mn and deals by 36% to 2,464.

The market witnessed a 17% expansion in the consumer goods sector’s trading volume to 1.88mn equities, but value fell 2% to QR121.45mn. However, transactions gained 10% to 1,303.

However, the telecom sector’s trading volume plummeted 41% to 4.33mn shares, value by 51% to QR115.19mn and deals by 32% to 863.

The transport sector saw its trading volume shrink 4% to 0.75mn stocks and value by 14% to QR21.6mn, whereas transactions rose 6% to 445.

The market witnessed a 3% decline in the industrials sector’s trading volume to 1.88mn equities, 1% in value to QR182.24mn and 7% in deals to 1,888.

In the debt market, there was no trading of treasury bills and government bonds.