The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday continued to remain under bearish spell despite strong buying support from domestic and Gulf funds.
The local retail investors were seen net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 16 points or 0.16% lower at 9,882.93 points, although it touched a low of 9,871 points intraday.
Both Arabic and foreign individuals were also seen bearish on the market, whose year-to-date losses widened to 5.2%.
Market capitalisation saw QR14mn or 0.02% decline to QR574.37bn, mainly owing to microcap segments.
A total of 24,693 exchange traded funds (both QATR and QETF) valued at QR93,207 changed hands across six transactions; while in the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.
Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase on the market, where the industrials, banks and consumer goods sectors together accounted for about 86% of the total trading volume.
The Total Return Index shrank 0.16% to 18,999.6 points, All Share Index by 0.02% to 3,066.91 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.03% to 2,275.41 points.
The transport index declined 0.76%, industrials (0.62%) and insurance (0.34%); while real estate gained 1.07%, consumer goods and services (0.4%) and banks and financial services (0.13%). The telecom index was rather flat.
Major decliners included Gulf Warehousing, Industries Qatar, Nakilat, Qatar German Company for Medical Devices, Qatar Insurance and QIIB.
Nevertheless, about 64% of the traded constituents were in the positive path with major losers being Salam International Investment, Mazaya Qatar, Investment Holding Group, Inma Holding, Alijarah Holding, Mannai Corporation, Al Meera, Baladna and Barwa.
The Arab individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR5.56mn compared with net buyers of QR1.07mn on August 26.
Local individuals were net profit takers to the extent of QR3.3mn against net buyers of QR16.33mn the previous day.
Foreign individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR2.39mn compared with net buyers of QR8.38mn on Wednesday.
The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR0.97mn against net buyers QR2.28mn on August 26.
The Arab funds were net profit takers to the extent of QR0.08mn compared with no exposure the previous day.
However, domestic institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR24.26mn against net sellers of QR5.63mn on Wednesday.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying grew perceptibly to QR7.37mn compared to QR4.17mn on August 26.
Foreign institutions’ net profit booking eased considerably to QR19.4mn against QR26.65mn the previous day.
Total trade volumes more than doubled to 523.97mn shares, value rose 51% to QR646.83mn and transactions by 42% to 12,547.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume more than quadrupled to 111.93mn equities and value more than doubled to QR125.74mn on 60% increase in deals to 2,002.
The industrials sector’s trade volume almost tripled to 224.13mn stocks and value also almost tripled to QR177.5mn on more than doubled transactions to 3,921.
The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 112mn shares, value grew 12% to QR211.65mn and deals by 22% to 3,751.
The real estate sector reported a 51% surge in trade volume to 62.14mn equities, 51% in value to QR85.99mn and 10% in transactions to 1,556.
However, the insurance sector’s trade volume plummeted 56% to 3.34mn stocks, value by 55% to QR7.04mn and deals by 18% to 210.
There was a 33% plunge in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 2.83mn shares, 38% in value to QR5.96mn and 17% in transactions to 267.
The transport sector’s trade volume was down 8% to 7.58mn equities and value by 1% to QR32.96mn, while deals gained 40% to 840.
