The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index declined 253.92 points, or 2.37%, during the shortened trading week to close at 10,467.23. Market capitalisation dropped by 2.37% to QR563.5bn versus QR577.2bn at the end of the previous week. Of the 44 listed companies, 10 ended the week higher, while 34 fell and 0 remained unchanged. Medicare Group (MCGS) was the best performing stock for the week with a gain of 13.7% on 1.9mn shares traded. On the other hand, Doha Bank (DHBK) was the worst performing stock with a decline of 15.9% on 2.0mn shares traded.
Ooredoo (ORDS), Barwa Real Estate Co (BRES) and Doha Bank (DHBK) were the primary contributors to the weekly index decline. ORDS was the biggest contributor to the index’s weekly decline, erasing 38.8 points to the index. BRES was the second biggest contributor, deleting 29.4 points from the index. Moreover, DHBK erased 21.0 points from the index. On the other hand, Qatari Investors Group (QIGD) added 15.1 points.
Trading value during the shortened week decreased by 23.04% to reach QR1.84bn versus QR2.39bn in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading value during the week, accounting for 39.29% of the total trading value. The real estate sector was the second biggest contributor to the overall trading value, accounting for 15.18% of the total trading value. QNB Group (QNBK) was the top value traded stock during the week with total traded value of QR177.9mn.
Trading volume decreased by 16.97% to reach 50.9mn shares versus 61.4mn in the prior week. The number of transactions declined by 18.38% to reach 20,896 versus 25,600 in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading volume, accounting for 35.38%, followed by the real estate sector, which accounted for 23.06% of the overall trading volume. Vodafone Qatar (VFQS) was the top volume traded stock during the week with total traded volume of 6.8mn shares. 
Foreign institutions turned bearish during the week with net selling of QR23.2mn versus net buying of QR103.8mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions remained bearish with net selling of QR25.9mn versus net selling of QR64.5mn the week before. Foreign retail investors remained bullish for the week with net buying of QR54.4mn versus net buying of QR98.6mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors remained bearish with net selling of QR5.4mn versus net selling of QR138.0mn the week before. 
In 2017 year-to-date, foreign institutions bought (on a net basis) $235mn worth of Qatari equities.
Related Story