The Qatar Stock Exchange saw increased buying interests of local retail investors and foreign funds, even as it settled in the negative for the second straight session.
Notwithstanding the bullish outlook of the foreign individuals, the 20-stock Qatar Index settled about 35 points or 0.31% lower at 11,143.45 points, although recovered from an intraday low of 11,125 points.
The real estate, consumer goods, insurance and transport counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 6.78%.
About 80% of the traded constituents were in the red in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw more than QR2bn or 0.35% decrease to QR643.19bn, mainly due to small cap segments.
The Gulf individuals were seen net buyers in the market, which saw the industrials, consumer goods and banking sectors together constitute about 84% of the total trading volume.
The overall trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the bourse, where the domestic funds turned net profit takers.
The Arab individuals were also seen net sellers in the market, which saw a total of 4,052 exchange traded funds (Masraf Al Rayan sponsored QATR) valued at QR100,073 change hands across two deals.
The Total Return Index shrank 0.31% to 22,059.14 points, Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.37% to 2,541.22 points and All Share Index by 0.32% to 3,529.67 points in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.
The realty sector index declined 0.65%, consumer goods and services 90.47%), insurance (0.4%), transport (0.33%), banks and financial services (0.32%) and industrials (0.24%); while telecom was up 0.11%.
Major shakers included Mesaieed Petrochemical Industries, Qatar First Bank, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Baladna, United Development Company, QNB, Salam International Investment, Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Qatar Electricity and Water, Qamco, Mazaya Qatar, Ezdan and Nakilat; even as Widam Food, Industries Qatar, Vodafone Qatar, Dlala and Alijarah Holding were among the gainers.
The domestic institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR20.7mn compared with net buyers of QR22.97mn on September 20.
The Arab individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR11.22mn against net buyers of QR11.47mn the previous day.
The Gulf institutions turned net profit takers to the tune of QR1.03mn compared with net buyers of QR1.83mn on Monday.
However, local retail investors’ net buying increased considerably to QR17.38mn against QR6.79mn on September 20.
The foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR13.32mn compared with net sellers of QR39.22mn the previous day.
The foreign individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR1.18mn against net sellers of QR2.73mn on Monday.
The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.06mn compared with net sellers of QR0.96mn on September 20.
The Arab funds had no major net exposure against net profit takers to the extent of QR0.13mn the previous day.
Total trade volume fell 25% to 114.33mn shares, value by 19% to QR301.9mn and transactions by 21% to 7,650.
The market witnessed 71% plunge in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 2.25mn equities, 60% in value to QR11.61mn and 50% in deals to 510.
The industrials sector’s trade volume plummeted 53% to 39.47mn stocks, value by 48% to QR86.96mn and transactions by 34% to 2,109.
There was 12% shrinkage in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 11.87mn shares but on flat value to QR19.15mn despite 12% higher deals at 1,033.
The insurance sector’s trade volume was down 1% to 1.23mn equities, value by 2% to QR3.53mn and transactions by 17% to 82.
However, the transport sector reported 75% surge in trade volume to 3.42mn stocks, 76% in value to QR14.26mn and 14% in deals to 332.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume soared 42% to 28.2mn shares and value by 15% to QR41.24mn, whereas transactions were down 12% to 818.
The banks and financial services sector saw 17% expansion in trade volume to 27.88mn equities and 13% in value to QR125.15mn but on 15% contraction in deals to 2,766.
In the venture market, Al Faleh equities were seen gaining 0.22%, while those of Mekdam Holding were rather unchanged.
