Stronger buying interests in the real estate sectors notwithstanding, the Qatar Stock Exchange on Tuesday settled overall in the negative terrain.
Foreign funds turned marginally bearish as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.34% lower at 10,458.85 points.
Banking sectors saw higher than average selling on the market, which closed 1.55% lower year-to-date.
Market capitalisation, however, was up 0.03% to QR602.17bn mainly owing to small and microcap segments.
Islamic equities were seen gaining vis-à-vis decline in the main index on the market, where domestic and Gulf funds turned bullish and there was substantially weakened net selling from local retail investors.
Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline on the bourse, where industrials, banking and realty sectors together accounted for more than 79% of the total volume.
The Total Return Index shed 0.34% to 18,427.33 points, while All Share Index gained 0.27% to 3,171.04 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.14% to 2,450.07 points.
The banks and financial services sector declined 0.88%, insurance (0.2%) and transport (0.09%); while real estate soared 3.9%, telecom (0.95%), industrials (0.29%) and consumer goods (0.05%).
Major losers included QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Al Khaliji, Alijarah Holding, Woqod, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Milaha, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing and Gulf International Services.
Nevertheless, more than 52% of the traded stocks extended gains with major movers being Ezdan, United Development Company, Qatari German Company for Medical Devices, Zad Holding, Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, Medicare Group, Qatari Investors Group, Industries Qatar and Salam International Investment.
Non-Qatari institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR0.87mn compared with net buyers of QR79.23mn on January 8.
However, the Gulf funds turned net buyers to the extent of QR13.04mn against net sellers of QR3.27mn the previous day.
Domestic funds were also net buyers to the tune of QR8.7mn compared with net sellers of QR3.1mn on Monday.
The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the extent of QR1.33mn against net profit takers of QR1.73mn January 7.
Local individuals’ net selling declined considerably to QR3.01mn compared to QR59.94mn the previous day.
Non-Qatari individuals’ net profit booking weakened perceptibly to QR3.34mn against QR11.2mn on Monday.
Total trade volume fell 4% to 17.78mn shares, value by 10% to QR301.17mn and transactions by 9% to 7,849.
The insurance sector’s trade volume plummeted 48% to 0.17mn equities, value by 45% to QR6.31mn and deals by 41% to 132.
The banks and financial services sector saw 18% plunge in trade volume to 4.96mn stocks, 25% in value to QR103.8mn and 15% in transactions to 1,921.
The real estate sector’s trade volume declined 6% to 3.13mn shares, while value rose 1% to QR50.68mn and deals by 3% to 1,224.
However, the transport sector reported 19% surge in trade volume to 0.37mn equities, 52% in value to QR10.63mn and 12% in transactions to 394.
The telecom sector’s trade volume soared 18% to 1.94mn stocks, while value declined 4% to QR22.86mn and deals by 2% to 562.
There was 7% jump in the consumer goods sector’s trade volume to 1.25mn shares, 36% in value to QR19.75mn and 16% in transactions to 552.
The industrials sector’s trade volume expanded 6% to 5.96mn equities, while value was down less than 1% to QR87.14mn and deals by 12% to 3,064.
In the debt market, there was no trading of treasury bills and sovereign bonds.
