Weekly Market Report

The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index lost 211.44 points, or 2.04%, during the week to close at 10,164.76. Market capitalisation decreased by 1.9% to QR543.6bn versus QR554.0bn at the end of the previous week. Of the 43 listed companies, nine ended the week higher, while 33 fell and only one remained unchanged. Widam Food Co (WDAM) was the best performing stock for the week with a gain of 11.6% on 2.5mn shares traded. On the other hand, Qatar Cinema & Film Distribution Co (QCFS) was the worst performing with a decline of 13.6% on only 392 shares traded.
Trading value during the week decreased by 8.0% to reach QR1.7bn versus QR1.8bn in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading value during the week, accounting for 28.0% of the total. The industrials was the second biggest contributor to the overall trading value, accounting for 27.5% of the total trading value. Qatari Investors Group (QIGD) was the top value traded stock during the week with total traded value of QR293.0mn.
Trading volume decreased by 12.4% to reach 42.4mn shares versus 48.4mn in the prior week. The number of transactions increased by 3.5% to reach 26,719 versus 25,810 in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading volume, accounting for 29.1%, followed by the industrials, which accounted for 20.9% of the overall trading volume. QIGD was the top volume traded stock during the week with total traded volume of 4.8mn shares.
Foreign institutions remained bullish during the week with net buying of QR162.6mn versus net buying of QR212.8mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions remained bearish with net selling of QR71.9mn versus net selling of QR76.1mn the week before. Foreign retail investors remained bearish for the week with net selling of QR16.4mn versus net selling of QR23.3mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors remained bearish with net selling of QR74.4mn versus net selling of QR113.4 the week before.
In 2016 year-to-date, foreign institutions bought (on a net basis) $236mn worth of Qatari equities.