Reflecting the global growth worries, the Qatar Stock Exchange Sunday saw heavy profit booking and its key index plummeted 165 points and capitalisation eroded more than QR8bn.
An across the board selling, especially at the real estate and insurance counters, led the 20-stock Qatar Index to decline 1.24% to 13,079.13 points, although it touched an intraday high of 13,242 points.
The local retail investors were increasingly net sellers in the market, whose year-to-date gains were at 12.5%.
More than 78% of the traded constituents were in the red in the bourse, whose capitalisation shed QR8.38bn or 1.14% to QR725.96bn, mainly on the back of mid and small cap segments.
The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices in the market, which saw a total of 0.02mn exchange traded funds (sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.26mn changed hands across 12 deals.
Trade turnover and volume were on the decline in both the main market and venture market.
The Arab individuals were seen bearish in the bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds.
The Gulf individuals were also seen net sellers in the market, which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index shrank 1.24% to 26,790.3 points, the All Share Index by 1.02% to 4,161.44 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index (Price) by 1.35% to 2,849.35points.
The realty sector index plummeted 2.58%, insurance (1.33%), banks and financial services (1.06%), telecom (1.05%), industrials (0.86%), transport (0.71%) and consumer goods and services (0.51%).
The major losers in the main market included QLM, Ezdan, Ahlibank Qatar, Mannai Corporation, Masraf Al Rayan, Commercial Bank, QIIB, Qatar First Bank, Salam International Investment, Gulf International Services, Estithmar Holding, Qamco, Doha Insurance, Barwa, United Development Company, Vodafone Qatar and Nakilat.
In the venture market, Mekdam Holding saw its shares depreciate in value.
Nevertheless, Doha Bank, Alijarah Holding, Zad Holding, Dlala, Widam and Milaha were among the gainers in the main market.
The local retail investors’ net selling increased noticeably to QR13.54mn compared to QR3.79mn on September 15.
The Arab individuals turned net sellers to the tune of QR2.54mn against net buyers of QR4.54mn the previous trading day.
The Gulf retail investors were net sellers to the extent of QR0.42mn compared with net buyers of QR1.2mn last Thursday.
The foreign institutions’ net buying declined significantly to QR31.94mn against QR186.13mn on September 15.
The foreign individuals’ net buying eased marginally to QR0.46mn compared to QR0.76mn the previous trading day.
However, the Arab institutions’ net buying strengthened notably to QR1.75mn against QR0.24mn last Thursday.
The Gulf institutions turned net buyers to the extent of QR0.52mn compared with net sellers of QR6.66mn on September 15.
The domestic institutions’ net profit booking fell substantially to QR18.15mn against QR182.42mn the previous trading day.
Total trade volume in the main market plunged 39% to 146.1mn shares, value by 63% to QR532.91mn and deals by 54% to 9,082.
The venture market saw 69% contraction in trade volumes to 0.14mn equities, 64% in value to QR1.08mn and 28% in transactions to 106.