The Qatar Stock Exchange Monday witnessed domestic funds turn net profit takers as its key barometer retreated below 12,500 levels and capitalisation erode more than QR5bn.
The banks and real estate counters witnessed higher than average selling pressure as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 95 points or 0.75% lower at 12,499.17 points, but recovering from an intraday low of 12,476 points.
The Gulf individuals were also seen bearish in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 7.51%.
The Arab retail investors’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR5.15bn or 0.74% decrease to QR695.24bn, mainly on the back of midcap segments.
The Islamic index declined slower than the other indices in the market, which saw a total of 0.17mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.95mn changed hands across 45 deals.
Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the main market, while the venture market saw declining turnover and volumes.
The foreign institutions were seen net buyers in the bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The local retail investors were also seen bullish in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index shrank 0.75% to 25,602.35 points, the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.67% to 2,749.92 points and the All Share Index by 0.71% to 3,970.62 points.
The banks and financial services sector index declined 0.92%, real estate (0.82%), industrials (0.73%), insurance (0.66%) and consumer goods and services (0.59%); while transport and telecom gained 0.53% and 0.34% respectively.
About 67% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market and included Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Aamal Company, Mazaya Qatar, QLM, Alijarah Holding, Commercial Bank, Masraf Al Rayan, Al Meera and Ezdan.
Nevertheless, Qatar Insurance, Inma Holding, Nakilat, Doha Insurance, Widam Food, Gulf International Services and Qatar Islamic Insurance were among the gainers in the main market.
In the venture market, both Al Faleh Educational Holding and Mekdam Holding saw their shares appreciate in value.
The domestic institutions were net sellers to the tune of QR16.32mn compared with net buyers of QR12.5mn on October 23.
The Gulf individuals were net sellers to the extent of QR0.15mn against net buyers of QR0.29mn the previous day.
The Arab retail investors’ net buying declined noticeably to QR2.65mn compared to QR7.49mn on Sunday.
The foreign individuals’ net buying weakened perceptibly to QR4.4mn against QR9.33mn on October 23.
However, the foreign institutions turned net buyers to the tune of QR7.77mn compared with net sellers of QR10.73mn the previous day.
Qatari individuals’ net buying expanded significantly to QR4.04mn against QR0.29mn on Sunday.
The Gulf institutions’ net profit booking fell considerably to QR2.38mn compared to QR19.36mn on October 23.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the tune of QR0.19mn the previous day.
Total trade volume in the main market rose 3% to 97.32mn shares and value by 11% to QR349.29mn, while deals were down 6% to 12,025.
The venture market saw a 90% plunge in trade volumes to 0.03mn equities, 89% in value to QR0.11mn and 83% in transactions to 10.
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