Local retail investors were increasingly net buyers; even as the Qatar Stock Exchange settled in the negative for the second consecutive session.

The bullish outlook of Gulf funds notwithstanding, the 20-stock Qatar Index fell 31 points, or 0.29%, to 10,504.16 points, having recovered from an intraday low of 10,484 points.

The industrials sector was primarily seen as the drag on the market, whose year-to-date gains were trimmed to 0.75%.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase on the bourse, where the consumer goods, banking and industrials sectors together accounted for about 85% of the total trading volume.

Islamic equities were seen declining slower than the conventional ones on the market, whose capitalisation saw about QR1bn or 0.16% decline to QR606.58bn, mainly on small cap segments.

A total of 14,196 exchange traded funds (Masraf Al Rayan sponsored QATR and Doha Bank-sponsored QETF) valued at QR73,601 changed hands across three deals; while on the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.

The Total Return Index fell 0.29% to 20,193.89 points, All Share Index by 0.21% to 3,218.66 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.13% to 2,403.86 points.

The industrials index declined 1.31%, consumer goods and services (0.02%) and transport (0.02%); whereas real estate gained 0.41%, telecom (0.35%), insurance (0.1%) and banks and financial services (0.03%).

More than 52% of the traded constituents were in the red with major losers being Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatar Oman Investment, Commercial Bank, Qatari German Medical Devices, Doha Bank and Milaha; even as Salam International Investment, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Al Khaliji, Investment Holding Group, Qatar National Cement and Qatar First Bank were among the gainers.

The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR12.68mn against net buyers of QR14.72mn on December 22.

The Arab institutions’ net buying declined marginally to QR0.03mn compared to QR0.34mn the previous day.

However, Qataris’ net buying increased considerably to QR22.4mn against QR16.82mn on Tuesday.

The Gulf funds turned net buyers to the tune of QR4.56mn compared with net sellers of QR0.43mn on December 22.

The foreign individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR0.19mn against net sellers of QR1.2mn the previous day.

The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR0.07mn compared with net sellers of QR1.56mn on Tuesday.

The domestic institutions’ net selling weakened substantially to QR12.72mn against QR26.39mn on December 22.

The Arab individuals’ net profit booking eased notably to QR1.93mn compared to QR2.39mn the previous day.

Total trade volumes gained 42% to 221.78mn shares and value by 12% to QR370.84mn, while transactions fell 22% to 6,956.

The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume soared 95% to 56.21mn equities, while value was down 3% to QR57.31mn and deals by 19% to 1,187.

The industrials sector reported 79% surge in trade volume to 80.23mn stocks, 56% in value to QR99.04mn and 25% in transactions to 2,079.

The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume shot up 49% to 51.34mn shares and value by 27% to QR138.25mn; while deals lost 21% to 2,014.

The insurance sector’s trade volume grew 45% to 1.87mn equities and value more than doubled to QR7.35mn but on 26% decline in transactions to 116.

The transport sector saw 1% jump in trade volume to 4.88mn stocks but on 10% shrinkage in value to QR16.7mn and 39% in deals to 289.

However, the telecom sector’s trade volume plummeted 57% to 3.39mn shares, value by 42% to QR15.29mn and transactions by 68% to 342.

There was 29% plunge in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 23.85mn equities, 31% in value to QR36.9mn and 39% in deals to 929.


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