Local retail investors’ buying interest yesterday sustained the bullish momentum on the Qatar Exchange for the third day.

Micro, mid and large cap segments were among the favourites as the QE Index (based on price data) rose 0.18% to 8,332.35 points. The market is, however, down 5.09% year-to-date.

All Share Index (comprising wider constituents) and Total Return Index also gained 0.10% and 0.18% to 2,006.96 and 11,276.67 points. Both the indices factored in dividend income as well.

Major gainers included Commercialbank, National Leasing and Qatar Telecom; even as Mawashi, Industries Qatar, United Development Company (UDC) and Barwa bucked the trend.

Under the All Share Index category, the index of banks and financial services gained 0.47%, transport (0.32%), consumer goods (0.20%) and telecom (0.12%), while those of realty, industrials and insurance shrank 0.63%, 0.54% and 0.13% respectively.

Market capitalisation rose 0.06% or about QR28mn to QR457.02bn with micro, mid and large cap equities notably gaining 0.45%, 0.26% and 0.20% respectively
Of the 42 stocks, 18 advanced, while 14 declined, eight were unchanged and two were not traded.

Qatari individual investors turned bullish in that they were net buyers to the tune of 1.91%. They were net sellers by 4.73% on the previous day. Their net buying amounted to QR3mn.

A higher 56.17% of them purchased equities compared to 52.06% on Wednesday whereas a lower 54.26% sold against 56.79%.

However, non-Qatari retail investors turned bearish in that they were net sellers to the extent of 2.09%. They were net buyers by 1.96% the previous day. Their net selling was QR3.28mn.

A lower 13.48% of them were into buying against 17.33% on Wednesday while a marginally higher 15.55% were into offloading against 15.37%.

Foreign institutions turned profit takers in that they were net sellers to the tune of 2.44%. They were net buyers by 1.10% the previous day. Their net selling was QR3.83mn.

A marginally higher 18.74% of them were into buying against 17.24% on Wednesday and a higher 21.18% of them into selling compared to 16.14%.

Domestic institutions’ bullish grip strengthened as their net buying rose to 2.62% from 1.67% the previous day. Their net buying was QR4.11mn.

A lower 11.61% of them bought equities compared to 13.37% on Wednesday and a lower 8.99% offloaded against 11.70%.

Total trading volume gained 13% to 4.28mn equities, value by 11% to QR156.97mn and deals by 14% to 2,850.

The insurance sector’s trading volume more than doubled to 0.13mn shares and value also more than doubled to QR5.66mn on more than doubled transactions to 121.

The industrials sector’s trading volume soared 95% to 0.74mn shares, value by 59% to QR26.03mn and deals by 36% to 513.

The banks and financial services sector’s trading volume surged 60% to 1.60mn shares, value by 35% to QR58.84mn and transactions by 50% to 906.

The transport sector’s trading volume zoomed 57% to 0.44mn shares and value more than doubled to QR15.91mn on 51% jump in deals to 335.

However, the real estate sector’s trading volume plummeted 42% to 0.70mn shares, value by 47% to QR14.68mn and transactions by 39% to 315.

The telecom sector’s trading volume plunged 28% to 0.13mn shares, whereas value gained 92% to QR6.33mn and deals by 66% to 144.

The consumer goods and services sector’s trading volume tanked 19% to 0.55mn shares, value by 27% to QR29.52mn and transactions by 18% to 516.

Actively traded stocks (in terms of volume) were Masraf Al Rayan (931,572 shares); Gulf International Services (390,414); UDC (306,555), Mawashi (290,668) and Barwa (288,263).

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