The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index decreased by 59.73 points, or 0.76%, during the trading week to close at 7,825.77. Market capitalisation decreased by 1.37% to QR420.5bn versus QR426.4bn at the end of the previous trading week. Of the 45 listed companies, 12 companies ended the week higher, while 31 declined and two remained unchanged. Qatar Insurance (QATI) was the best performing stock for the week with a gain of 5.2% on 639,889 shares traded. On the other hand, Medicare (MCGS) was the worst performing stock for the week with a decline of 24.9% on 180,086 shares traded.
Medicare (MCGS), Masraf Al Rayan (MARK) and Qatar Navigation (QNNS) were the primary contributors to the weekly index decline. MCGS was the biggest contributor to the index’s weekly decrease, deleting 16.99 points from the index. MARK was the second biggest contributor to the decline, shedding 15.93 points from the index. Moreover, QNNS deleted 15.21 points from the index. Alternatively, Industries Qatar (IQCD) added 22.37 points to the index.
Trading value during the week decreased by 8.40% to reach QR818.2mn versus QR893.2mn in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading value during the week, accounting for 42.29% of the total trading value. The industrials sector was the second biggest contributor to the overall trading value, accounting for 20.56% of the total trading value. QNB Group (QNBK) was the top value traded stock during the week with total traded value of QR162.4mn.
Trading volume decreased by 16.13% to reach 27.2mn shares versus 32.4mn shares in the prior week. The number of transactions fell by 9.10% to reach 12,980 transactions versus 14,279 transactions in the prior week. The banks and financial services sector led the trading volume, accounting for 30.07%, followed by the real estate sector which accounted for 19.10% of the overall trading volume. Vodafone Qatar (VFQS) was the top volume traded stock during the week with 3.9mn shares.
Foreign institutions remained bullish with net buying of QR23.7mn versus net buying of QR97.3mn in the prior week. Qatari institutions turned bullish with net buying of QR15.2mn versus net selling of QR5.3mn the week before. Foreign retail investors turned bullish with net buying of QR0.1mn versus net selling of QR12.8mn in the prior week. Qatari retail investors remained bearish with net selling of QR38.9mn versus net selling of QR79.2mn the week before. 
In 2017 year-to-date, foreign institutions bought (on a net basis) $727mn worth of equities.
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