The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index gained 20.2 points, or 0.22%, during the trading week to close at 9,257.90. Market capitalisation increased by 1.1% to QR500.7bn versus QR495.3bn at the end of the previous week. Of the 44 listed companies, 26 ended the week higher, while 15 fell and three remained unchanged. Gulf Warehousing Co (GWCS) was the best performing stock for the week with a gain of 11.0% on 793,820 shares traded. On the other hand, Qatari Investors Group (QIGD) was the worst performing stock with a decline of 7.2% on 347,270.
Qatar Insurance Co (QATI), Qatar Electricity & Water (QEWS) and Qatar Islamic Bank (QIBK) were the primary contributors to the weekly index gain. QATI was the biggest contributor, adding 27.5 points to the index. QEWS was the second biggest contributor to the increase, tacking on 15.8 points to the index. Moreover, QIBK contributed 9.7 points to the index.
On the other hand, Masraf Al Rayan (MARK) contributing negatively, deleting 35.0 points from the index.
Trading value during the week decreased by 34.09% to reach QR1.93bn versus QR2.93bn in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading value during the week, accounting for 45.74% of the total trading value. The telecoms sector was the second biggest contributor to the overall trading value, accounting for 16.43% of the total trading value. QNBK was the top value traded stock during the week with total traded value of QR261.6mn.
Trading volume decreased by 21.16% to reach 82.32mn shares versus 104.42mn shares in the prior week. The number of transactions decreased by 30.69% to reach 21,494 versus 31,011 transactions in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading volume, accounting for 37.94%, followed by the telecoms sector which accounted for 33.82% of the overall trading volume. Vodafone Qatar (VFQS) was the top volume traded stock during the week with total traded volume of 26.8mn shares.
Foreign institutions remained bearish with net selling of QR284.9mn versus net selling of QR653.2mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions remained bullish with net buying of QR340.4mn versus net buying of QR675.1mn the week before. Foreign retail investors remained bearish with net selling of QR5.7mn versus net selling of QR156.8mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors turned bearish with net selling of QR49.8mn versus net buying of QR134.9mn the week before.
