The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index gained 19.76 points, or 0.17%, during the week to close at 11,604.59. Market capitalisation remained at QR608.0bn versus the end of the previous week. Of the 43 listed companies, 20 ended the week higher, while 21 fell and two remained unchanged. Qatar German Co Medical Devices (QGMD) was the best performing stock for the week, with a gain of 15.8% on 1.7mn shares traded. On the other hand, Gulf International Services (GISS) was the worst, with a decline of 5.5% on 1.9mn shares traded.
Ezdan Holding (ERES), Milaha (QNNS) and Aamal Holding (AHCS) were the primary contributors to the weekly index gain. ERES was the biggest contributor to the index’s weekly advance, adding 55.6 points to the Index. QNNS added 6.6 points to the index, while AHCS added 2.1 points. On the other hand, GISS contributed negatively to the index, shredding 20.9 points.
Trading value during the week decreased by 25.8% to reach QR1.17bn versus QR1.58bn in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading value during the week, accounting for 26.9% of the total trading value. The industrials sector was the second biggest contributor to the overall trading value, accounting for 22.8% of the total trading value. QNB Group (QNBK) was the top value traded stock during the week with total traded value of QR93.6mn.
Trading volume decreased by 46.6% to reach 28.5mn shares versus 53.4mn in the prior week. The number of transactions fell by 9.6% to reach 17,573 versus 19,443 in the prior week. The real estate sector led the trading volume, accounting for 26.7%, followed by the telecoms sector, which accounted for 17.0% of the overall trading volume. Vodafone Qatar (VFQS) was the top volume traded stock during the week with total traded volume of 4.3mn shares.
Foreign institutions remained bullish during the week with net buying of QR26.8mn vs net buying of QR46.7mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions remained bearish with net selling of QR65.7mn vs net selling of QR92.2mn the week before. Foreign retail investors turned bullish for the week with net selling of QR4.3mn vs net selling of QR18.6mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors remained bullish with net buying of QR34.6mn vs net buying of QR64.2mn the week before.
In 2015 year-to-date, foreign institutions bought (on a net basis) ~$692mn worth of Qatari equities.
