The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday treaded an almost flat course despite four of the seven sectors experiencing selling pressure.
The 20-stock Qatar Index settled mere 0.03% higher at 12,657.12 points as foreign funds were increasingly net buyers. The market was seen recovering from an intraday low of 12,617 points.
The foreign individuals were seen net buyers in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 8.87%.
The insurance and telecom counters witnessed higher than average demand in the main bourse, whose capitalisation however saw QR1.73bn or 0.25% decrease to QR703.55bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments.
The Islamic index outperformed the main index in the market, which saw a total of 0.08mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.68mn changed hands across 49 deals.
Trade turnover grew amidst lower volumes in the main market, while the venture market saw increased turnover and volumes.
The domestic institutions were increasingly into net selling in the bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The local retail investors turned net profit takers and the Gulf funds were strongly into net profit booking in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index was up 0.03% to 25,925.89 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.14% to 2,770.12 points, while All the Share Index shrank 0.16% to 4,016.05 points.
The insurance sector index gained 0.48% and telecom (0.45%); while transport declined 1.32%, real estate (0.74%), consumer goods and services (0.4%), industrials (0.12%) and banks and financial services (0.04%).
More than 60% of the constituents were in the red in the main market and included Milaha, Commercial Bank, United Development Bank, Lesha Bank, Zad Holding, Al Meera, Industries Qatar, Ezdan, United Development Company and Mazaya Qatar.
In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Masraf Al Rayan, Qatar Electricity and Water, Qatar Islamic Bank, Qatar Insurance, Qamco, Estithmar Holding and Ooredoo were among the gainers in the main market.
The foreign institutions’ net buying increased considerably to QR91.19mn compared to QR31.11mn on October 19.
The foreign individuals turned net buyers to the tune of QR2.31mn against net sellers of QR5.58mn the previous day.
The Gulf individuals’ net profit booking eased marginally to QR0.92mn compared to QR1.72mn on Wednesday.
However, the domestic institutions’ net selling expanded significantly to QR53.73mn against QR34.93mn on October 19.
The Gulf institutions turned net profit takers to the tune of QR26.69mn.
Qatari individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR13.3mn compared with net buyers of QR8.66mn on Wednesday.
The Arab retail investors’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR1.16mn against QR2.45mn on October 19.
The Arab institutions continued to have no major net exposure for the seventh consecutive session.
Total trade volume in the main market shrank 16% to 113.18mn shares, while value shot up 26% to QR510.52mn and deals by 60% to 21,048.
The venture market saw trade volumes more than triple to 0.1mn equities and value almost quadruple to QR0.78mn on almost tripled transactions to 65.
 
 
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