The Qatar Stock Exchange Wednesday declined 0.45% despite buying interests at the transport, telecom and insurance counters.
The Arab individuals were increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index fell about 55 points to 12,237.04 points, although it touched an intraday high of 12,291 points.
About 55% of the traded constituents were in the red in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 5.26%.
The foreign institutions’ weakened net selling also had its influence on the bourse, whose capitalisation saw about QR5bn or 0.67% decrease to QR686.1bn, mainly on the back of small cap segments.
The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices in the market, where the consumer goods, industrials and banking sectors together constituted more than 85% of the total trading volume.
The Gulf institutions however turned bullish in the bourse, which saw a total of 3,870 exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.04mn changed hands across six deals.
The local retail investors were seen net buyers 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 0.45 to 25,065.43 points, the All Share Index by 0.57% to 3,930.86 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.12% to 2,636.5 points.
The banks and financial services sector index shrank 0.94%, industrials (0.64%) and real estate (0.63%); while transport gained 1.01%, telecom (0.97%), insurance (0.26%) and consumer goods and services (0.09%).
Major shakers in the main market included Doha Insurance, Mannai Corporation, Al Khaleej Takaful, QNB, United Development Company, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Qatar First Bank, Alijarah Holding, Ezdan and Mazaya Qatar. In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Qatari German Medical Devices, Salam International Investment, Qatar Islamic Insurance, Baladna, QLM, Widam Food, Al Meera, Aamal Company, Ooredoo, Milaha and Nakilat were among the gainers in the main market.
The Arab individuals’ net selling increased noticeably to QR9.17mn compared to QR7.99mn on June 28.
The foreign individuals’ net selling expanded markedly to QR1.75mn against QR0.04mn the previous day.
The foreign institutions’ net buying shrank substantially to QR55.27mn compared to QR109.13mn on Tuesday.
However, the Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR6.16mn against net sellers of QR4.84mn on June 28.
Qatari individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR5.77mn compared with net sellers of QR25.13mn the previous day.
The domestic funds’ net selling declined perceptibly to QR55.05mn against QR67.32mn on Tuesday.
The Gulf individuals’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR1.23mn compared to QR3.81mn on June 28.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight session.
Total trade volume in the main market rose 3% to 131.31mn shares and value by 10% to QR519.23mn, while transactions were down 8% to 15,925.
The insurance sector’s trade volume almost quadrupled to 2.36mn equities and value almost tripled to QR7.22m on more-than-doubled deals to 202.
The consumer goods and services sector’s trade volume soared 86% to 47.72mn stocks and value doubled to QR79.34mn on a 56% increase in transactions to 1,938.
There was a 47% surge in the telecom sector’s trade volume to 2.41mn shares and 3% in value to QR9.66mn but on a 15% decline in deals to 513.
The real estate sector’s trade volume zoomed 40% to 12.43mn equities and value by 54% to QR17.66mn on almost-doubled transactions to 838.
However, the market witnessed a 44% plunge in the transport sector’s trade volume to 2.39mn stocks, 39% in value to QR11.21mn and 52% in deals to 486.
The banks and financial services sector’s trade volume plummeted 31% to 26.72mn shares, while value gained 16% to QR298.48mn despite 11% lower transactions at 9,178.
The industrials sector reported a 22% shrinkage in trade volume to 37.29mn equities, 30% in value to QR95.66mn and 21% in deals to 1,938.
In the venture market, trade volumes shrank 12.5% to 0.21mn stocks, value by 18.84% to QR1.12mn and transactions by 54.88% to 37.
Related Story