The expectations of robust financial performance of the listed companies had its influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange, thus reflecting in 359 points accretion in index and QR21bn in capitalisation this week.
Foreign funds’ net buying increased substantially to lift the 20-stock Qatar Index by as much as 3% this week which saw QNB, the country’s largest lender, report QR13.21bn net profit for the year ended 2021.
The banking and real estate sectors witnessed higher than average demand this week which saw the Qatar Economic Outlook’s (QEO) assertion that the revival of the non-oil sector to aid Qatar’s strong economic growth this year.
More than 87% of the traded constituents extended gains in the main market this week which saw the QEO forecast that Doha may witness imported and domestic inflation of 2%-3.5% during 2021-23.
Foreign individuals were seen bullish this week which saw Qatar report a 2.6% year-on-year growth during the third quarter of 2021.
The Gulf individuals turned bullish, albeit at lower levels, this week which saw a total of 158,665 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange traded funds QETF valued at QR424,219 change hands across 24 transactions.
The Islamic equities were seen gaining lower that then conventional ones this week, which saw as many as 906,129 Masraf Al Rayan-sponsored QATR worth QR10.62mn trade across 92 deals.
Market capitalisation expanded 3.05% to QR700.29bn, mainly on large and midcap segments this week which saw the industrials, banking and consumer goods sector together constitute more than 76% of the total trade volume.
The banks and financial services sector index shot up 3.67%, real estate (3.52%), industrials (2.39%), transport (2.36%), insurance (1.34%), consumer goods and services (1.16%) and telecom (1.03%) this week which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
Major gainers in the main market included Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Salam International Investment, Investment Holding Group, Mannai Corporation, Qatar Islamic Bank, QNB, Qatar National Cement, Aamal Company, Gulf International Services, Qamco, Barwa, Ezdan, Vodafone Qatar, Nakilat and Milaha this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.
Major losers in the main market included Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, QLM, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Doha Insurance, Ahlibank Qatar and Zad Holding.
In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their shares depreciate in value this week which saw Nakilat partners with ABS for its decarbonisation strategy.
Foreign institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR759.7mn compared to QR307.83mn the previous week.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying grew markedly to QR38.63mn against QR32.28mn the week ended January 6.
Foreign individuals turned net buyers to the extent of QR6.46mn compared with net sellers of 28.58mn a week ago.
The Gulf individuals were net buyers to the tune of QR1.67mn against net sellers of QR1.24mn the previous week.
The Arab individuals’ net profit booking fell noticeably to QR1.46mn compared to 16.13mn the week ended January 6.
However, the domestic funds’ net selling strengthened drastically to QR473.65mn against QR10.22mn a week ago.
The local retail investors’ net profit booking jumped significantly to QR331.37mn compared to QR283.94mn the previous week.
The Arab institutions had no major next exposure.
The industrials sector accounted for 33% of the total trade volume, followed by banks and financial services (25%), consumer goods and services (180%), real estate (15%), transport (4%) and telecom (3%) and insurance (2%) this week.
In terms of value, the banks and financial services sector’s share was 49% of the total, industrials (26%), consumer goods and services (8%), realty (7%), transport (6%), insurance (3%) and telecom (2%) this week.
Total trade volume in the market rose 62% to 878.58mn shares, value by 81% to QR2.89mn and transactions by 43% to 56,440.
The telecom sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 23.88mn equities and value soared 23% to QR68.23mn, while deals were down less than 1% to 2,205.
The insurance sector’s trade volume almost doubled to 19.49mn stocks and value more than doubled to QR72.48mn on a 13% growth in transactions to 941.
The banks and financial sector’s trade volume shot up 76% to 217.51mn shares and value more than doubled to QR1.41bn on a 69% increase in deals to 25,193.
There was a 76% surge in the industrials sector’s trade volume to 291.9mn equities, 79% in value to QR739.91mn and 52% in transactions to 14,866.
The transport sector’s trade volume jumped 60% to 35.67mn stocks and value by 48% to QR177.59mn, whereas deals shrank 20% to 2,199.
The consumer goods and services sector saw a 51% expansion in trade volume to 161.92mn shares, 27% in value to QR225.52mn and 13% in transactions to 5,535.
The real estate sector’s trade volume grew 25% to 128.21mn equities, value by 54% to QR191.61mn and deals by 37% to 5,501.
In the venture market, trade volume more than doubled to 1.32mn stocks and value more than tripled to QR8.74mn on more than tripled transactions to 648.