The failed US-Russia talks and uncertainties around rate cut decision by the US Federal Reserve had their overarching influence on the Gulf bourses, including the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which saw its key index plummet 306 points and capitalisation erode in excess of QR17bn this week.The foreign funds were seen squaring off their position as the 20-stock Qatar Index plunged 2.63% this week which saw the listed companies in the main market earn total net profit of QR26.68bn in the first half (H1) of 2025.The foreign individuals were seen net sellers this week which saw Al Faleh Educational Holding contemplate increasing the foreign ownership limit to 100% as part of efforts to attract additional investment, enhance market liquidity, and broaden the shareholder base.More than 77% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market this week which saw Qatar register a total of 51.7mn transactions valued at QR16.13bn through the country's payment system in July 2025.The Gulf institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence on the main bourse this week which saw a QNB Financial Services (QNBFS) study that said total assets of commercial banks in Qatar expanded by 2.8% month-on-month to QR2.125tn in June.The domestic institutions continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main market this week which saw Beema enter into a strategic partnership with PayLater; Qatar’s first Qatar Central Bank-licensed, Shariah-compliant ‘Buy Now, Pay Later provider’.However, the local retail investors were seen net buyers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.07mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR0.02mn trade across 15 deals.The Arab individuals turned bullish in the main market this week which saw 0.05mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.06mn change hands across 14 transactions.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.Market capitalisation eroded QR17.12bn or 2.47% to QR675.72bn on the back of large and midcap segments this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the main market; whereas the junior bourse saw substantially increased volumes and turnover this week which saw the consumer goods, realty and industrials sectors together constitute more than 76% of the total trade volumes.The Total Return Index tanked 2.31%, the All Islamic Index by 2.55% and the All Share Index by 2.23% this week.The telecom sector index plummeted 3.32%, banks and financial services (2.39%), real estate (2.39%), transport (2.06%), consumer goods (1.92%), industrials (1.8%) and insurance (0.82%) this week.The market was skewed towards shakers with as many 41 constituents declining, while 11 made gains and one was unchanged this week.Major losers in the main market included Mannai Corporation, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Ooredoo, Qatar Electricity and Water, Qamco, QNB, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, QIIB, AlRayan Bank, Dukhan Bank, Alijarah Holding, Qatar Oman Investment, Woqod, Baladna, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Industries Qatar, Gulf International Services, Qatari Investors Group, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Mazaya Qatar, Barwa and Milaha this week.Nevertheless, QLM, Qatar German Medical Devices, Medicare Group, Widam Food, Vodafone Qatar, Beema and Ezdan were among the movers in the main bourse.In the venture market, Techno Q saw its shares appreciate in value this week.The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR87.73mn compared with net buyers of QR130.78mn the previous week.The foreign individual investors were net profit takers to the extent of QR1.84mn against net buyers of QR1.02mn a week ago.The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR33.52mn compared to QR36.34mn the week ended August 14.However, the local individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR86.1mn against net sellers of QR70.65mn the previous week.The Arab retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR6.95mn compared with net sellers of QR8.57mn a week ago.The Gulf individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR4.54mn against net buyers of QR0.25mn the week ended August 14.The domestic funds’ net profit booking declined substantially to QR41.37mn compared to QR88.49mn the previous week.The Arab institutions’ net selling eased marginally to QR0.18mn against QR0.68mn a week ago.The main market saw 47% contraction in trade volumes to 771.17mn shares, 35% in value to QR1.8bn and 13% in deals to 101,437 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes more than tripled to 1.65mn equities and value also more than tripled to QR4.53mn on more than quadrupled transactions to 367.