The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) closed lower on Tuesday, with the benchmark index shedding 64 points amid cautious sentiment linked to ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks. Market capitalisation declined by more than QR5bn as investors trimmed positions across key sectors.
The 20-stock Qatar Index fell 0.56 per cent to 11,362.59 points, despite touching an intraday high of 11,425 points earlier in the session. Capitalisation dropped QR5.45bn, or 0.8 per cent, to QR676.75bn, largely driven by losses in mid-cap stocks.
Six of the seven sector indices ended in negative territory. The telecom index recorded the steepest decline, down 0.58 per cent, followed by real estate at 0.49 per cent and transport at 0.31 per cent. Banks and financial services slipped 0.17 per cent, industrials edged down 0.06 per cent and consumer goods and services fell 0.04 per cent. Insurance was the sole gainer, rising 2.57 per cent.
The Islamic index declined at a faster pace than the broader market. The Total Return Index eased 0.14 per cent, the All Share Index fell 0.11 per cent and the All Islamic Index was down 0.15 per cent.
Trading activity weakened compared with the previous session. Volumes on the main market dropped 20 per cent to 115.63mn shares, while the value of shares traded declined 12 per cent to QR377.23mn. The number of deals fell 8 per cent to 22,178 transactions. In the venture market, 0.14mn shares worth QR0.29mn were traded across 29 deals.
Domestic institutions were net sellers, offloading QR10.04mn in shares, compared with net buying of QR11.1mn on Monday. Foreign institutional buying slowed to QR16.05mn from QR32.46mn in the previous session. Gulf institutions continued to reduce exposure, though at a slower pace, with net selling of QR6.93mn.
Arab retail investors returned as net buyers with QR1.66mn in purchases, reversing net sales of QR5.57mn a day earlier. Qatari individuals also turned net buyers at QR0.59mn, compared with net selling of QR23.48mn on Monday. Foreign individual investors reduced profit-taking to QR1.37mn.
Among the most active stocks were Woqod, QNB, Qatar National Cement, Dlala, Qatar German Medical Devices, Widam Food, Estithmar Holding, United Development Company, Ooredoo and Nakilat. In the junior market, Techno Q shares declined. Gainers included Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Qatar Insurance, QLM, Meeza, Gulf Warehousing, Mannai Corporation, Mazaya Qatar and Vodafone Qatar.
Exchange-traded funds sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank saw 8,058 units traded, valued at QR0.05mn. No sovereign bonds or treasury bills were traded during the session.
