Strengthened oil prices lifted the sentiments on the Qatar Stock Exchange, whose key index yesterday gained 118 points to inch near 13,400 levels and capitalisation expanded about QR7bn.
The foreign and Gulf institutions were increasingly bullish as the 20-stock Qatar Index shot up 0.89% to 13,397.57 points, recovering from an intraday low of 13,283 points.
The Islamic index outperformed the other indices in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 15.24%.
More than 67% of the traded constituents extended gains in the market, whose capitalisation saw 0.88% increase to QR757.89bn, mainly on the back of large and small cap segments.
The industrials and consumer goods counters witnessed higher than average demand in the bourse, where the industrials and banking sectors together accounted for about 65% of the trading volume.
Nevertheless, domestic funds and local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the bourse, which saw a total of 89,480 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR636,439 changed hands across 55 deals.
The Arab institutions’ net buying weakened marginally in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
Total trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index rose 1.07% to 27,335.4 points, the All Share Index by 0.89% to 4,290.59 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 1.49% to 2,902.15 points.
The industrials sector index zoomed 2.82%, consumer goods and services (2.34%), real estate (0.38%), telecom (0.16%), transport (0.14%) and banks and financial services (0.13%); while insurance declined 0.15%.
Major gainers in the main market included Investment Holding Group, Zad Holding, Qatar Electricity and Water, Industries Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Masraf Al Rayan, Dlala, Qatar Oman Investment, Salam International Investment, Woqod, Baladna, Al Meera, Qamco, QLM and Ezdan.
In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their shares appreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Doha Insurance, Commercial Bank, Qatari German Medical Devices, Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution and Mazaya Qatar were among the losers in the main market.
The foreign institutions’ net buying increased significantly to QR305.7mn against QR152.3mn on March 16.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying increased substantially to QR117.67mn compared to QR54mn the previous day.
However, the domestic funds’ net selling grew considerably to QR263.01mn against QR116.71mn on Wednesday.
Qatari individuals’ net profit booking rose drastically to QR140.21mn compared to QR98.8mn on March 16.
The Arab individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR20mn against net buyers of QR8.84mn the previous day.
The foreign individuals’ net selling strengthened marginally to QR1.24mn compared to QR1.15mn on Wednesday.
The Gulf individuals’ net buying declined perceptibly to QR1.07mn against QR1.43mn on March 16.
The Arab institutions’ net buying eased marginally to QR0.03mn compared to QR0.1mn the previous day.
Total trade volume in the main market rose 28% to 355.02mn shares, value by 75% to QR1.53bn and transactions by 8% to 22,494.
The transport sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 10.26mn equities and value almost tripled to QR48.99mn on 61% increase in deals to 885.
There was a 54% surge in the insurance sector’s trade volume to 2.95mn stocks, 44% in value to QR8mn and 78% in transactions to 287.
The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume soared 48% to 121.4mn shares and value more than doubled to QR8623.98mn on a 21% growth in deals to 12,040.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume shot up 48% to 66.36mn equities and value more than doubled to QR141.31mn on a 58% jump in transactions to 1,981.
The market witnessed a 33% expansion in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 5.57mn stocks and 34% in value to QR22.19mn but on a 33% shrinkage in deals to 526.
The real estate sector’s trade volume shot up 18% to 39.46mn shares and value by 19% to QR68.65mn, whereas transactions shank 44% to 1,188.
The industrials sector reported a 2% gain in trade volume to 109.03mn equities and 24% in value to QR375.97mn but on an 8% dip in deals to 5,587.
The venture market saw seven-fold growth in trade volumes to 0.21mn stocks and more than five-fold in value to QR1.41mn on more than quadrupled transactions to 79.