The Qatar Stock Exchange on Wednesday witnessed five of the seven sectors under the buying spotlight, even as it fell 16 points.
The domestic funds were seen bearish as the 20-stock Qatar Index declined 0.12% to 12,858.58 points, although it touched an intraday high of 12,930 points.
The Gulf funds and the Arab individuals were increasingly net profit takers in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 10.6%.
More than 61% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market, whose capitalisation nevertheless gained about QR2bn or 0.27% to QR721.78bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments.
The foreign individuals were seen net sellers in the bourse, where the industrials and banking sectors together accounted for about 60% of the trading volume.
The Gulf individuals were also seen bearish in the market, which saw a total of 69,040 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.44mn changed hands across 16 deals.
The foreign institutions were increasingly into net buying in the market, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
Total trade turnover and volumes were on the rise in the bourse, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index shed 0.12% to 26,338.54points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.48% to 2,758.82 points, while the All Share Index was up 0.11% to 4,119.55 points.
The realty sector index shrank 0.59% and consumer goods and services 0.38%; while telecom gained 0.76%, transport (0.51%), banks and financial services (0.19%), insurance (0.12%) and industrials (0.01%).
Major losers in the main market included Qatar Industrial Manufacturing, Qatar Islamic Bank, Qamco, United Development Company, Masraf Al Rayan, Dlala, Mannai Corporation, Baladna, Investment Holding Group and United Development Company.
In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Al Khaleej Takaful, Gulf Warehousing, QNB, Al Meera, Ooredoo, QLM and Nakilat were among the gainers in the main market.
The domestic funds turned net sellers to the tune of QR93.46mn compared with net buyers of QR13.2mn on May 24.
The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking expanded marginally to QR14.44mn against QR14.31mn on Tuesday.
The Arab individuals’ net selling increased markedly to QR7.15mn compared to QR1.73mn the previous day.
The foreign individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR3.39mn against net buyers of QR2.72mn on May 24.
The Gulf individuals turned net sellers to the extent of QR2.48mn compared with net buyers of QR1.12mn on Tuesday.
However, the foreign institutions’ net buying grew substantially to QR129.32mn against QR34.01mn the previous day.
Qatari individuals’ net profit booking declined considerably to QR8.41mn compared to QR34.73mn on May 24.
The Arab funds had no major net exposure against net sellers to the extent of QR0.29mn on Tuesday.
Total trade volume in the main market rose 3% to 114.84mn shares, value by 18% to QR613.63mn and transactions by 16% to 20,859.
The transport sector’s trade volume soared 59% to 8.37mn equities, value by 48% to QR32.77mn and deals by 16% to 1,004.
There was a 30% surge in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 12.42mn stocks, 46% in value to QR18.16mn and 5% in transactions to 672.
The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume zoomed 23% to 38.85mn shares, value by 38% to QR404.98mn and deals by 28% to 12,945.
The market witnessed a 5% gain in the insurance sector’s trade volume to 5.04mn equities and 19% in value to QR17.89mn but on an 8% decline in transactions to 516.
However, the telecom sector’s trade volume plummeted 35% to 3.68mn stocks and value by 8% to QR21.96mn, while deals expanded 27% to 1,703.
The industrials sector reported a 16% plunge in trade volume to 29.63mn shares, 22% in value to QR85.82mn and 8% in transactions to 3,119.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume tanked 12% to 16.86mn equities, value by 21% to QR32.05mn and deals by 13% to 900.
In the venture market, trade volumes were seen shrinking 16.67% to 0.15mn stocks but on a 36.84% expansion in value to QR1.04mn and 13.73% in transactions to 58.