Transport, real estate drag sentiments as QSE falls 45 points

The Qatar Stock Exchange on Sunday opened the week weak and its key index fell 45 points, mainly dragged by the transport and real estate sectors.The foreign funds’ substantial net buying support notwithstanding, the 20-stock Qatar Index shrank 0.35% to 12,983.29 points, having touched an intraday high of 13,023 points.The local retail investors’ increased net selling was instrumental in the overall gloom in the market, whose year-to-date truncated to 11.68%.The foreign individuals’ weakened net buying also had its influence in the main bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR1.83bn or 0.25% decrease to QR724.19bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the market, which saw a total of 0.08mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.34mn changed hands across 28 deals.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease in the main market, while the venture market saw increased trade turnover and volumes.More than 68% of the traded constituents were in the red in the bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.The Gulf individuals were increasingly net profit takers in the market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.The Total Return Index shed 0.35% to 26,593 99 points, All Share Index by 0.27% to 4,129.39 points and Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.46% to 2,814.91 points.The transport sector index tanked 1.48%, realty (1%), industrials (0.34%), consumer goods and services (0.19%) and banks and financial services (0.14%); while telecom and insurance gained 0.56% and 0.29% respectively.Major losers in the main market included Inma Holding, Estithmar Holding, Nakilat, Qatari Investors Group, Qatar National Cement, Masraf Al Rayan, Qatari German Medical Devices, Qatari Investors Group, Aamal Company, Qamco, Ezdan and Barwa. In the venture market, Al Faleh Educational Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.Nevertheless, Alijarah Holding, Doha Insurance, Mazaya Qatar, Vodafone Qatar, Ooredoo and QNB were among the gainers in the main market. In the juniour bourse, Mekdam Holding saw its shares appreciate in value.Qatari individuals’ net profit booking increased substantially to QR99.03mn compared to QR6.39mn on October 6.The Gulf individuals’ net selling grew marginally to QR0.25mn against QR0.09mn the previous trading day.The foreign individuals’ net buying weakened considerably to QR0.04mn compared to QR10.12mn last Thursday.However, the foreign institutions’ net buying shot up significantly to QR93.54mn against QR6.57mn on October 6.The Arab retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR5.67mn compared with net sellers of QR4.47mn the previous trading day.The domestic institutions’ net buying strengthened perceptibly to QR4.68mn against QR3.51mn last Thursday.The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking weakened noticeably to QR4.65mn compared to QR9.26mn on October 6.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the second straight session.Total trade volume in the main market fell 38% to 114.95mn shares, value by 31% to QR359.96mn and deals by 57% to 7,247.The venture market saw trade volumes more than double to 0.13mn equities and value also more than double to QR0.91mn on 48% surge in transactions to 77.