The foreign funds’ increased buying interests on Tuesday steered the Qatar Stock Exchange into positive trajectory and its key index gained about 46 points.

The telecom, banking and consumer goods counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.47% higher at 9,853.16 points, although it touched an intraday low of 9774 points.

The domestic funds’ increased net buying also helped enhance positive sentiments on the market, whose year-to-date losses were at 5.49%.

Nevertheless, the decliners outnumbered gainers on the bourse, where Islamic stocks were seen gaining slower than the other indices.

Market capitalisation saw more than QR1bn or 0.18% jump to QR577.74bn, mainly owing to midcap segments.

A total of 1,834 exchange traded funds (both Masraf Al Rayan sponsored QATR and Doha Bank sponsored QETF) valued together at QR4,506 changed hands across three deals; while in the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline on the bourse, where the consumer goods, industrials and banking sectors together accounted for more than 75% of the total trading volume.

The Total Return Index gained 0.47% to 18,942.38 points, Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.34% to 2,280.74 points and All Share Index by 0.39% to 3,045.97 points.

The telecom index gained 1.03%, banks and financial services (0.84%) and consumer goods and services (0.53%); whereas transport declined 1.03%, insurance (1.02%), real estate (0.89%) and industrials (0.07%).

Major gainers included Commercial Bank, Masraf Al Rayan, Qatar Oman Investment, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Barwa, Al Khaliji, Woqod, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Vodafone Qatar and QNB.

However, more than 53% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Dlala, Qatar First Bank, Alijarah Holding, Mazaya Qatar, Ahlibank Qatar, Inma Holding, Salam International Investment, Qatar National Cement, Aamal Company, Qamco, Ezdan and Nakilat.

Foreign institutions’ net buying grew substantially to QR35.03mn compared to QR1.7mn on October 26.

Domestic institutions’ net buying increased significantly to QR8mn against QR4.91mn the previous day.

The Arab funds were net buyers to the extent of QR0.004mn compared with no major exposure on Monday.

The Arab individuals’ net selling declined notably to QR0.04mn against QR5.81mn on October 26.

The Gulf funds’ net selling also weakened perceptibly to QR3.78mn compared to QR5.96mn the previous day.

However, local individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR36.65mn against net buyers of QR4.46mn on Tuesday.

Foreign individuals’ net profit booking rose markedly to QR3.15mn compared to QR0.35mn on October 26.

The Gulf individuals’ net buying eased marginally to QR0.58mn against QR1.05mn the previous day.

Total trade volumes fell 49% to 201.03mn shares, value by 10% to QR449.69mn and transactions by 20% to 9,212.

The industrials sector’s trade volume plummeted 69% to 50.79mn equities, value by 47% to QR71.02mn and deals by 47% to 1,608.

The real estate sector reported 63% plunge in trade volume to 31.28mn stocks, 59% in value to QR51.91mn and 49% in transactions to 1,283.

The transport sector’s trade volume tanked 55% to 4.87mn shares, value by 61% to QR15.49mn and deals by 52% to 463.

There was 41% shrinkage in the insurance sector’s trade volume to 4.55mn equities, 34% in value to QR9.58mn and 41% in transactions to 183.

The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume shrank 24% to 55.31mn stocks, value by 13% to QR71.83mn and deals by 29% to 1,499.

However, the telecom sector’s trade volume soared 64% to 9.09mn shares and value more than doubled to QR19.96mn on more than doubled transactions to 717.

The banks and financial services sector saw 1% increase in trade volume to 45.17mn equities and value more than doubled to Q209.89mn on 55% surge in deals to 3,459.



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