Market EyeWeak energy prices, uncertainty on future Federal Reserve rate cuts and growing concerns on the US shutdown led to 95 points decline in index and more than QR6bn erosion in capitalisation in the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which closed in the negative for the third consecutive week.The Gulf institutions were increasingly net sellers as the 20-stock Qatar Index shed 0.87% this week which saw the International Monetary Fund (IMF) project a 4% medium-term growth for Qatar, reflecting the North Field expansion.About 83% of the traded constituents were in the red this week which saw the IMF find Qatar's banks to be in the pink of their health with strong capitalisation, liquidity and profitability.The domestic institutions turned bearish in the main market this week which saw Aamal Company’s board approve selling 51% stake in ECCO Gulf to its foreign partner Majorel Group Luxembourg for about QR36.4mn.The foreign funds continued to be net sellers but with lesser intensity in the main bourse this week which saw Techno Q win new government contracts valued at QR62mn.However, the local retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main market this week which saw Aamal Company decide to establish a new joint venture in Qatar, operating in the oil and energy services sector, with Aamal Readymix and Oman's Mohammed Al Barwani Oil Services as partners.The foreign individuals were increasingly bullish in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.67mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange traded fund QATR worth QR1.66mn trade across 260 deals.The Gulf retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the main market this week which saw 3,611 Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.04mn change hands across nine transactions.The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market this week, which saw as many as 0.33mn of sovereign bonds valued at QR3.3bn trade across seven deals.Market capitalisation eroded QR6.16bn or 0.94% to QR650.59bn on the back of mid and small cap segments this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.Trade turnover and volumes were on the decrease in the main market, while those were on the rise in the venture market this week which saw the consumer goods and realty sectors together constitute about 51% of the total trade volumes.The Total Return Index shed 0.87%, the All Share Index by 0.75% and the All Islamic Index by 1.07% this week which saw QNB Group, in cooperation with Ajlan and Bros Holding, receive license for a digital-first banking entity, ezbank, from the Saudi Central Bank.The realty index tanked 1.53%, consumer goods and services (1%), industrials (0.8%), banks and financial services (0.73%), transport (0.62%), telecom (0.58%) and insurance (0.01%) this week which saw Oxford Economics report that said Qatar's renewed commitment to the North Field gas expansion will provide a big medium-term boost to the country's economyThe market was skewed towards shakers with as many 43 constituents reporting declines, while only nine gained this week which saw Qatar report a robust year-on-year double-digit jump in ships arrival through Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports in the first nine months of this year.Major losers in the main market included Ezdan, Mazaya Qatar, Qatar German Medical Devices, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Qatar Islamic Bank, Lesha Bank, Dukhan Bank, Salam International Investment, Baladna, Meeza, Aamal Company, Industries Qatar and Estithmar Holding this week which saw Ooredoo's fully owned fintech subsidiary's intention to form a strategic collaboration with PayPal.Nevertheless, Beema, QLM, Doha Bank, Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance, Al Khaleej Takaful and Qamco were among the movers in the main market this week which saw Ashghal announce 13 new contracts worth QR12bn to enhance the infrastructure of road and drainage networks and public buildings and improve the quality of life in Qatar.The Gulf institutions’ net selling increased substantially to QR50.01mn compared to QR26.2mn the week ended September 25.The domestic funds turned net sellers to the tune of QR12.59mn against net buyers of QR83.9mn the previous week.However, the Qatari individuals’ net buying strengthened significantly to QR124.11mn compared to QR73.37mn a week ago.The foreign retail investors’ net buying expanded noticeably to QR8.85mn against QR11.38mn the week ended September 25.The Gulf individuals’ net buying rose perceptibly to QR8.85mn compared to QR5.26mn the previous week.The Arab individual investors turned net buyers to the extent of QR2.25mn against net sellers of QR9.25mn a week ago.The foreign funds’ net selling weakened considerably to QR90.53mn compared to QR138.69mn the week ended September 25.The Arab institutions had no major net exposure against net buyers to the tune of QR0.23mn the previous week.The main market saw 29% contraction in trade volumes to 628.31mn shares, 19% in value to QR1.88bn and 6% in deals to 106,186 this week.In the venture market, trade volumes jumped 40% to 0.63mn equities and value by 40% to QR1.61mn on more than doubled transactions to 192.