The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index lost 434.33 points, or 3.66%, during the week to close at 11,418.68. Market capitalisation decreased by 3.34% to reach QR602.4bn compared to QR623.8bn at the end of the previous week. Of the 43 listed companies, 11 ended the week higher, while 32 fell. Alijarah Holding (NLCS) was the best performing stock for the week, with a gain of 6.35% on 985,358 shares traded. On the other hand, Qatari Investors Group (QIGD) was the worst performing with a decline of 9.18% on 740,210 shares traded.
QNB Group (QNBK), Industries Qatar (IQCD) and Masraf Al Rayan (MARK) were the primary contributors to the weekly index drop. QNBK was the biggest contributor, erasing 116.0 points from the index. IQCD shaved off 87.84 points from the Index, while MARK erased 51.87 points. On the other hand, Commercial Bank (CBQK) contributed positively to the index, tacking on 0.85 points.
Trading value during the week decreased by 33.70% to reach QR1.32bn vs QR1.99bn in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading value during the week, accounting for 39.41% of the total. The industrial sector was the second biggest contributor to the overall trading value, accounting for 24.15% of the total. MARK was the top value traded stock during the week with total traded value of QR157.8mn.
Trading volume decreased by 30.21% to reach 32.50mn shares vs 46.57mn in the prior week. The number of transactions decreased by 27.74% to reach 19,537 versus 27,037 in the prior week. The real estate sector led the trading volume, accounting for 39.0%, followed by the banks and financial services sector, which accounted for 27.88% of the overall trading volume.
Mazaya Qatar Real Estate Development Co (MRDS) was the top volume traded stock during the week with total traded volume of 3.6mn shares.
Foreign institutions turned bearish during the week with net selling of QR185.2mn vs net buying of QR308.8mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions remained bearish with net selling of QR19.7mn vs net selling of QR107.7mn the week before. Foreign retail investors turned bullish for the week with net buying of QR66.8mn vs net selling of QR78.4mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors turned bullish with net buying of QR138.0mn vs net selling of QR122.6mn the week before.
In 2015 year-to-date, foreign institutions bought (on a net basis) $626mn worth of Qatari equities.
