Global factors continued to play spoilsport in the Gulf bourses, including the Qatar Stock Exchange, which lost more than 18 points.
The strong buying interests of foreign and Gulf funds notwithstanding, the 20-stock Qatar Index declined 0.13% to 13,470.86 points, recovering from an intraday low of 13,398 points.
The real estate, industrials and consumer goods counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 15.87%.
The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the main barometer in the market, whose capitalisation saw a marginal QR16mn or 0.02% increase to QR762.52bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments.
Both domestic funds and local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the market, where the industrials and consumer goods sectors together accounted for more than 46% of the trading volume.
The Arab individuals were seen net profit takers in the bourse, which saw a total of 55,515 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR695,289 changed hands across 17 deals.
The Gulf retail investors turned bearish, albeit at lower levels, in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
Total trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index was down 0.01% to 27,348.3 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.94% to 2,927.16 points, while All Share Index rose 0.17% to 4,292.16 points.
The real estate sector index tanked 2.11%, industrials (1.1%) and consumer goods and services (0.76%); whereas banks and financial services gained 0.99%, telecom (0.39%), insurance (0.32%) and transport (0.19%).
Major losers in the main market included Barwa, Al Meera, Investment Holding Group, Salam International Investment, Doha Bank, Industries Qatar, Aamal Company, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qamco and Al Khaleej Takaful Group.
Nevertheless, Gulf International Services, QLM, QNB, Inma Holding, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Commercial Bank and Qatar National Cement were among the gainers in the main market. In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their shares appreciate in value.
The domestic funds’ net selling increased significantly to QR226.01mn compared to QR66.22mn on March 13.
Qatari individuals’ net profit booking grew drastically to QR104.17mn against QR7.47mn the previous day.
The Arab individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR23.43mn compared with net buyers of QR5.21mn on Sunday.
The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR0.61mn against net buyers of QR0.81mn on March 13.
The foreign individuals’ net buying weakened noticeably to QR3.16mn compared to QR10.37mn the previous day.
However, the foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR190.27mn against net sellers of QR5.11mn on Sunday.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying expanded considerably to QR160.82mn compared to QR62.98mn on March 13.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net profit takers of QR0.57mn the previous day.
Total trade volume in the main market fell 12% to 360.54mn shares, while value rose 31% to QR1.21bn and transactions by 51% to 22,500.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume plummeted 58% to 42.92mn equities, value by 47% to QR85.23mn and deals by 22% to 1,794.
There was 45% plunge in the insurance sector’s trade volume to 3.82mn stocks, 42% in value to QR13.25mn and 32% in transactions to 291.
The telecom sector’s trade volume tanked 28% to 4.51mn shares, while value shot up 16% to QR14.69mn and deals by 50% to 593.
The market witnessed 8% shrinkage in the industrials sector’s trade volume to 123.93mn equities but on 1% jump in value to QR368.03mn and 35% in transactions to 6,435.
However, the transport sector’s trade volume almost tripled to 5.17mn stocks and value more than doubled to QR23.84mn on more than doubled deals to 579.
The real estate sector reported 20% surge in trade volume to 86.56mn shares, 21% in value to QR115.82mn and 48% in transactions to 2,763.
The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume was up 7% to 93.64mn equities and value more than doubled to QR586.96mn and deals also more than doubled to 10,045.
The venture market reported 50% contraction in trade volumes to 0.13mn stocks, 35.59% in value to QR1.14mn and 24.56% in transactions to 43.
 
 
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