The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday gained about 63 points to scale the 9,300 level, mainly lifted by banking, telecom and industrials sectors.

Foreign institutions’ net buying strengthened substantially to impart a 0.68% lift to the 20-stock Qatar Index to 9,309.39 points, although it touched a high of 9,316 points intraday.

Domestic institutions were also seen increasingly into net buying in the market, which is however down 10.71% year-to-date.

Market capitalisation saw more than QR5bn, or 0.98%, growth to QR520.31bn mainly owing to small and midcap segments.

Islamic stocks were seen gaining slower than the main barometer in the bourse, where local retail investors were increasingly into net selling.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the bourse, where the consumer goods, realty and banking sectors together accounted for about 78% of the total trading volume.

The Total Return Index shot up 0.81% to 17,456.71 points, the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.27% to 1,977.37 points and the All Share Index by 0.05% to 2,843.11 points.

The banks and financial services index soared 1.49%, telecom (1.48%), industrials (1.45%), insurance (0.52%) and transport (0.03%); while consumer goods and realty declined 3.02% and 0.25% respectively.

More than 51% of the traded constituents extended gains with major movers being QNB, Commercial Bank, QIIB, Al Meera, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatar Electricity and Water, Qatar Insurance, Doha Insurance, Nakilat and Ezdan; while Doha Bank, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatar German Company for Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Woqod, Ooredoo and Milaha were among the losers.

Non-Qatari institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR94.27mn compared to QR10.67mn on March 4.

Domestic institutions’ net buying also grew significantly to QR84.01mn against QR42.46mn the previous day.

Non-Qatari individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.54mn compared with net sellers of QR2.08mn on Wednesday.

However, local retail investors’ net selling rose considerably to QR121.03mn against QR42.79mn on March 4.

The Gulf funds’ net profit booking strengthened extensively to QR58.52mn compared to QR9mn the previous day.

The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR0.27mn against net buyers of QR0.66mn on Wednesday.

Total trade volumes rose 33% to 115.3mn shares, value by 78% to QR451.93mn and transactions by 8% to 7,137.

The consumer goods sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 42.83mn equities and value also more than doubled to QR187.05mn on a 44% increase in deals to 1,686.

The banks and financial services sector saw a 77% surge in trade volume to 21.77mn stocks to more than double value to QR172.33mn on a 45% jump in transactions to 2,041.

The transport sector’s trade volume soared 35% to 2.04mn shares, value by 41% QR5.31mn and deals by 4% to 164.

There was a 33% expansion in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 5.8mn equities but on a 9% fall in value to QR19.92mn and 27% in transactions to 1,016.

The industrials sector’s trade volume was up 3% to 15.32mn stocks, while value declined 10% to QR39.45mn despite 4% higher deals at 1,193.

However, the insurance sector reported a 71% plunge in trade volume to 2.38mn shares, 73% in value to QR4.91mn and 59% in transactions to 196.

The real estate sector’s trade volume was down 2% to 25.16mn equities, whereas value rose 3% to QR22.96mn despite 5% lower deals at 841.

In the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.


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