The Qatar Stock Exchange Tuesday witnessed profit booking, a day after it made huge gains, as its key index lost 23 points, mainly dragged by the transport and banking sectors.
The Gulf retail investors were increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.18% to 12,391.58 points but recovering from an intraday low of 12,263 points.
The Gulf institutions were seen net profit takers in the market, whose year-to-date gains were pruned to 6.59%.
The foreign institutions’ weakened net buying had its influence in the main bourse, whose capitalisation saw QR0.52bn or 0.07% fall to QR694.18bn, mainly on the back of microcap segments.
The Islamic index was seen declining slower than the other indices in the market, which saw a total of 0.04mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.41mn changed hands across 25 deals.
Trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease in the main market; while the venture market saw increased turnover and trade volumes.
The domestic institutions continued to be bearish but with lesser intensity in the bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The local retail investors also continued to be net sellers but with lesser vigour in the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index was down 0.18% to 25,381.97 points, Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 0.11% to 2,727.89 points and All Share Index by 0.13% to 3,957.75 points.
The transport sector index shrank 0.45%, banks and financial services (0.28%), insurance (0.16%), consumer goods and services (0.10%) and telecom (0.08%); while real estate and industrials gained 1.06% and 0.12% respectively.
More than 59% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main market and included Dlala, QLM, Commercial Bank, Al Khaleej Takaful, Qatar Oman Investment and Milaha. In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Ahlibank Qatar, Alijarah Holding, Barwa, United Development Company, Qatari German Medical Devices and QIIB were among the gainers in the main market.
The Gulf individuals’ net selling strengthened markedly to QR16.21mn compared to QR12.64mn on October 31.
The Gulf institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR1.5mn against net buyers of QR2.36mn the previous day.
The foreign institutions’ net buying shrank considerably to QR54.68mn compared to QR73.72mn on Monday.
However, the foreign individuals were net buyers to the extent of QR3.26mn against net sellers of QR1.3mn on October 31.
The Arab retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR1.01mn compared with net sellers of QR10.07mn the previous day.
The local retail investors’ net profit booking weakened noticeably to QR8.52mn against QR17.75mn on Monday.
The domestic institutions’ net selling eased perceptibly to QR32.72mn compared to QR34.33mn on October 31.
The Arab institutions had no major net exposure for the third straight session.
Total trade volume in the main market fell 13% to 106.98mn shares, value by 31% to QR386.36mn and deals by 24% to 15,978.
The venture market saw trade volumes more than double to 0.26mn equities and value also more than double to QR1.88mn on more than tripled transactions to 173.
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