The Qatar Stock Exchange on Thursday witnessed robust buying interests in the telecom and real estate counters but overall it fell 55 points, a day after huge gains.

Foreign institutions were seen net profit takers as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled 0.65% lower at 8,479.2 points, although it touched a high of 8,604 points within the first 45 minutes of opening.

Gulf funds were increasingly net sellers in the bourse, whose year-to-date losses increased to 18.67%.

Market capitalisation saw about QR5bn, or about 1%, erosion to QR478.96bn mainly owing to mid and small cap segments.

Islamic stocks however saw gains vis-a-vis declines in the other indices in the market, where domestic funds were increasingly bullish and there was weakened net selling by local retail investors.

Trade turnover and volumes were on the increase in the bourse, where the realty, industrials and banking sectors together accounted for more than 82% of the total trading volume.

The Total Return Index shed 0.65% to 16,125.24 points and the All Share Index by 1.06% to 2,636.36 points, while the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) was up 0.29% to 1,804.74 points.

The banks and financial services index shrank 1.96%, transport (1.19%), insurance (0.68%) and consumer goods and services (0.21%); while telecom gained 3.37%, real estate (1.02%) and industrials (0.48%).

Major decliners included QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Doha Bank, Alijarah Holding, Qatar Oman Investment, Salam International Investment, Mannai Corporation, Gufl International Services, Doha Insurance, Milaha and Nakilat; even as Commercial Bank, Zad Holding, Qatar National Cement, Industries Qatar, Aamal Company, Qatar Aluminium, United Development Company, Mazaya Qatar and Ooredoo were among the gainers.

Non-Qatari institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR5.32mn compared with net buyers of QR45.56mn on March 25.

Gulf institutions’ net profit booking increased marginally to QR2.89mn against QR2.35mn the previous day.

However, domestic funds' net buying enhanced significantly to QR29.12mn compared to QR0.92mn on Wednesday.

Local retail investors' net selling declined substantially to QR14.78mn against QR36.02mn on March 25.

Gulf individuals' net profit booking eased perceptibly to QR0.87mn compared to QR2.35mn the previous day.

Non-Qatari individual investors' net selling fell perceptibly to QR5.23mn against QR5.72mn on Wednesday.

Total trade volumes rose 10% to 128.72mn shares and value by 7% to QR289.16mn, while transactions fell 11% to 8,530.

The industrials sector's trade volume more than doubled to 36.39mn equities and value almost doubled to QR61.96mn on a 45% increase in deals to 2,318.

There was a 33% surge in the consumer goods and services sector's trade volume to 10.69mn shares and 27% in value to QR24.83mn but on a 5% decline in deals to 683.

The banks and financial services sector's trade volume was up 7% to 27.2 equities, whereas value eased 3% to QR124.66mn and transactions by 25% to 3,075.

However, the telecom sector reported a 49% plunge in trade volume to 4.86mn stocks, 17% in value to QR24.73mn and 18% in deals to 946.

The transport sector's trade volume plummeted 32% to 5.27mn shares, value by 22% to QR13.99mn and transactions by 68% to 222.

The real estate sector witnessed a 11% shrinkage in trade volume to 42.31mn equities, 13% in value to QR34.52mn and 2% in deals to 1,075.

In the debt market, there was no trading of sovereign bonds and treasury bills.


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