The Qatar Stock Exchange on Sunday opened the week weak despite strong buying interests of Arab and local retail investors.
The foreign institutions’ net buying weakened substantially as the 20-stock Qatar Index fell 67 points or 0.5% to 13,330.31 points, although it touched an intraday high of 13,413 points.
The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 14.66%.
More than 67% of the traded constituents were in the red the market, whose capitalisation saw about QR4bn or 0.51% increase to QR753.99bn, mainly on the back of mid and small cap segments.
A higher than average selling pressure was visible in the consumer goods, transport and telecom counters in the bourse, where the industrials and realty sectors together accounted for more than 66% of the trading volume.
The domestic funds’ net selling weakened significantly in the bourse, which saw a total of 65,020 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR821,277 changed hands across 93 deals.
The Gulf individuals were increasingly net buyers, albeit at lower levels, 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 shed 0.5% to 27,198.17points, the All Share Index by 0.57% to 4,265.99 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.69% to 2,882.05 points.
The consumer goods and services sector index shrank 1.39%, transport (1.3%), telecom (1.07%), banks and financial services (0.73%) and realty (0.5%); whereas insurance and industrials gained 0.21% and 0.13% respectively.
Major losers in the main market included Medicare Group, Qamco, Qatar National Cement, Mazaya Qatar, QNB, Alijarah Holding, Qatari German Medical Devices, Gulf International Services, Ezdan, Nakilat and Ooredoo.
In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Inma Holding, Mannai Corporation, Aamal Company, Qatari Investors Group, QLM, Dlala, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding and Gulf Warehousing were among the gainers in the main market.
In the juniour bourse, Mekdam Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.
The foreign institutions’ net buying decreased significantly to QR26.59mn compared to QR305.7mn on March 17.
The Gulf institutions’ net buying declined substantially to QR2.7mn against QR117.67mn the previous trading day.
However, the Arab individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR15.36mn compared with net sellers of QR20mn last Thursday.
Qatari individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR4.4mn against net sellers of QR140.21mn on March 17.
The Gulf individuals’ net buying grew marginally to QR1.35mn compared to QR1.07mn the previous trading day.
The domestic funds’ net selling weakened considerably to QR50.33mn against QR263.01mn last Thursday.
The foreign individuals’ net selling eased perceptibly to QR0.07mn compared to QR1.24mn on March 17.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the tune of QR0.03mn the previous trading day.
Total trade volume in the main market fell 30% to 247.94mn shares, value by 59% to QR625.56mn and transactions by 42% to 12,955.
The transport sector’s trade volume plummeted 72% to 2.86mn equities, value by 72% to QR13.8mn and deals by 52% to 424.
The banks and financial services sector reported a 71% plunge in trade volume to 35.47mn stocks, 85% in value to QR125.72mn and 66% in transactions to 4,135.
The telecom sector’s trade volume tanked 65% to 1.95mn shares, value by 75% to QR5.53mn and deals by 54% to 242.
The market witnessed a 37% shrinkage in the consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume to 41.57mn equities, 36% in value to QR90.42mn and 17% in transactions to 1,648.
The insurance sector’s trade volume shrank 22% to 2.3mn stocks and value by 13% to QR6.97mn, while deals were up 8% to 310.
However, the real estate sector reported a 26% surge in trade volume to 49.83mn shares but on a 16% contraction in value to QR57.36mn despite 34% higher transactions at 1,595.
The industrials sector’s trade volume was up 5% to 113.96mn equities, whereas value eroded 13% to QR325.77mn and deals by 18% to 4,601.
The venture market saw an 80.95% contraction in trade volumes to 0.04mn stocks, 73.05% in value to QR0.38mn and 65.82% in transactions to 27.
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