Qatar shares edge down on local selling pressure

The Qatar Exchange fell yesterday as local institutions were seen considerably squaring off their position. Mid and large cap equities largely came under selling pressure as the QE Index (based on price data) fell 0.31% to 8,247.49 points. The market is down 6.05% year-to-date. The All Share Index (comprising wider constituents) and the Total Return Index also shrank 0.34% and 0.31% to 1,986.77 and 11,161.83 points respectively. Both the indices factored in dividend income as well. Major losers included QNB, Qatar Islamic Bank, Barwa, Mazaya Qatar, Nakilat and Industries Qatar. Under the All Share Index category, the transport index lost 0.64%, followed by industrials (0.62%), banks and financial services (0.39%), realty (0.19%) and consumer goods (0.05%); while the indices of telecom and insurance gained 0.50% and 0.08% respectively. Market capitalisation was down 0.34% or more than QR1bn to QR451.90bn with mid, large and micro cap equities melting 0.52%, 0.39% and 0.31% respectively. Of the 42 stocks, only 13 gained, while 17 declined, six were unchanged and six were not traded. Domestic institutions turned extremely bearish as they were net sellers to the extent of 83.14% against net buyers of 8.74% the previous day. Their net selling was QR79.37mn. A much lower 1.62% of them bought equities compared to 22.18% on Sunday, while a much higher 84.76% offloaded against 13.44%. On the other hand, foreign institutions turned bullish as they were net buyers to the tune of 81.15% compared with net sellers of 11.84% the previous day. Their net buying was QR77.47mn. A much higher 87.54% of them were into buying against 11.18% on Sunday, whereas a lower 6.39% of them into selling compared to 23.02%. Qatari individual investors continued to be bullish, but with lesser vigour, as their net buying fell to 1.75% from 6.69% the previous day. Their net buying amounted to QR1.67mn. A much lower 7.84% of them purchased equities compared to 45.69% on Sunday and a much lower 6.09% sold against 39%. Non-Qatari retail investors turned marginally bullish as they were net buyers to the extent of 0.24% compared with net sellers of 3.60% the previous day. Their net buying was QR0.23mn. A much lower 3% of them were into buying against 20.94% on Sunday and a much lower 2.74% were into offloading against 24.54%. Total trading volume shrank 26% to 3.93mn equities, value by 26% to QR95.47mn and deals by 24% to 2,095. The real estate sector’s trading volume plummeted 60% to 0.54mn shares, value by 65% to QR10.80mn and transactions by 48% to 318. The consumer goods and services sector’s trading volume plunged 37% to 0.22mn shares, value by 16% to QR6.04mn and deals by 26% to 152. The transport sector’s trading volume tanked 26% to 0.96mn shares, value by 31% to QR16.35mn and transactions by 38% to 439. The industrials sector’s trading volume declined 25% to 0.21mn shares, value by 25% to QR9.96mn and deals by 22% to 238. The telecom sector’s trading volume lost 23% to 0.64mn shares, value by 43% to QR6.12mn and transactions by 26% to 121. However, the insurance sector’s trading volume tripled to 0.03mn shares and value rose 30% to QR0.96mn whereas deals were flat at 18. The banks and financial services sector’s trading volume gained 10% to 1.34mn shares, value by 4% to QR45.24mn and transactions by 12% to 809. Actively traded stocks (in terms of volume) were Nakilat (929,247 shares); Qatar Oman Investment (667,379); Vodafone Qatar (632,170); Barwa (248,557) and Masraf Al Rayan (231,192). In the debt market, there was no trading. from gulf times.