The Qatar Stock Exchange on Sunday opened the week on a stronger note as its key index gained 0.16% on an across the board buying, particularly in the insurance, transport and consumer goods sectors.
The Arab and foreign individuals were seen net buyers as the 20-stock Qatar Index gained 21 points to 12,659.49 points, although it touched an intraday high of 12,794.59 points.
The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the other indices in the market, whose year-to-date gains increased to 8.89%.
About 72% of the traded constituents extended gains to investors in the bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR41mn or 0.06% increase to QR716.01bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments.
The local retail investors’ weakened net selling had its influence in the market, where the industrials and consumer goods sectors together accounted for more than 65% of the trading volume.
The Gulf individuals were seen net buyers, albeit at lower levels in the bourse, which saw a total of 41,545 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR368,396 changed hands across 10 deals.
The domestic institutions were increasingly net profit takers in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
Total trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index rose 0.16% to 25,255.04 points, All Share Index by 0.04% to 3,980.55 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.44% to 2,819.08 points.
The insurance sector index shot up 1.05%, transport (0.83%), consumer goods and services (0.71%), real estate (0.59%), industrials (0.58%) and telecom (0.06%); while banks and financial services declined 0.48%.
Major gainers in the main market included Investment Holding Group, Mannai Corporation, Qatar Oman Investment, Salam International Investment, Al Khaleej Takaful, Alijarah Holding, Dlala, Baladna, Qamco, Qatar Insurance, Mazaya Qatar, Ezdan, Vodafone Qatar and Nakilat. In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, QNB, Milaha, QLM and Doha Insurance were among the losers in the main market. In the juniour bourse, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its equities weaken.
The Arab individuals were net buyers to the tune of QR28.75mn compared with net sellers of QR38.39mn on February 24.
The foreign individuals turned net buyers to the extent of QR9.24mn against net sellers of QR9.16mn last Thursday.
The Gulf individuals were net buyers to the tune of QR0.18mn compared with net sellers of QR1.44mn the previous day.
Qatari individuals’ net profit booking declined significantly to QR5.1mn against QR143.42mn on February 24.
However, the domestic funds’ net selling rose noticeably to QR38.43mn compared to QR9.12mn last Thursday.
The foreign institutions were net sellers to the extent of QR0.41mn against net buyers of QR185.83mn the previous day.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying weakened markedly to QR5.76mn compared to QR15.26mn on February 24.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the tune of QR0.44mn last Thursday.
Total trade volume in the main market fell 10% to 227.39mn shares, value by 31% to QR591.13mn and transactions by 38% to 10,628.
The insurance sector’s trade volume plummeted 70% to 2.13mn equities, value by 71% to QR6.13mn and deals by 51% to 184.
The banks and financial services sector reported 55% plunge in trade volume to 25.11mn stocks, 70% in value to QR120.92mn and 63% in transactions to 2,672.
The telecom sector’s volume tanked 49% to 4.01mn shares, value by 52% to QR11.46mn and deals by 40% to 669.
The industrials sector reported 8% shrinkage in trade volume to 94.77mn equities, 14% in value to QR233.26mn and 32% in transactions to 3,296.
However, the transport sector’s trade volume almost doubled to 14.2mn stocks and value more than doubled to QR55.91mn on more than doubled deals to 1,483.
The market witnessed 27% surge in the consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume to 53.34mn shares and 49% in value to QR99.88mn but on 13% contraction in transactions to 1,414.
The real estate sector’s trade volume shot up 14% to 33.83mn equities and value by 55% to QR63.58mn, while deals shrank 33% to 910.
The venture market saw 12.7% decrease in volumes to 0.55mn stocks and 14.52% in value to QR5.12mn but on 10% jump in transactions to 198.
 
 
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