US Tariff Concerns Limit Gains In QSE M-Cap Melts About Qr1bn

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Uncertainties over the US' tariff policy had its reflection in the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), which closed almost flat this week despite foreign institutions' strong buying interests.
The banks and consumer goods counters witnessed higher than average demand as the 20-stock Qatar Index settled mere three points or 0.03% higher this week which saw the International Monetary Fund (IMF) project 4.75% medium-term growth for Qatar.
The foreign retail investors were increasingly net buyers in the bourse this week which saw the IMF find Qatar's banks as highly capitalised and profitable.
The foreign funds' weakened net selling had its influence in the main market this week which saw Ooredoo report net profit of QR3.44bn in 2024.
The Arab institutions' marginally higher net buying was seen in the main bourse this week which saw Barwa report net profit of QR1.24bn in 2024.
However, the Gulf funds were increasingly net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw a total of 0.1mn AlRayan Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QATR worth QR0.23mn trade across 26 deals.
The Arab individuals were net profit takers in the main market this week which saw as many as 0.01mn Doha Bank-sponsored exchange-traded fund QETF valued at QR0.12mn change hands across 12 transactions.
The local individuals were seen net sellers in the main bourse this week which saw as many as 0.11mn sovereign bonds worth QR1.06bn change hands across three deals.
The Islamic index was seen gaining faster than the main barometer of the main market this week, which saw QNB's shogun bond issuance for QR500mn.
Market capitalisation melted QR0.97bn or 0.16% to QR620.3bn on the back of small and microcap segments this week which saw Estithmar Holding and United Development Company report net profit of QR404mn and QR426mn respectively in 2024.
Trade turnover and volumes were on the decline in the main market; while it surged in junior bourse this week which saw no trading of treasury bills.
The Total Return Index was up 0.03% and the All Islamic Index by 0.06%; while the All Share Index was down 0.04% this week which saw the industrials, banking and consumer goods sectors together constitute more than 68% of the total trade volumes.
The banks and financial services sector index rose 0.24% and consumer goods and services 0.21%; while transport declined 0.98%, real estate (0.67%), telecom (0.46%), industrials (0.24%) and insurance (0.08%) this week which saw Al Faleh Educational Holding ink pact with Qatari Diar for a prime plot in Lusail.
Major gainers in the main bourse included Qatar Cinema and Film Distribution, Doha Bank, Gulf International Services, Qatar Islamic Bank, QLM, Qatar National Cement, Estithmar Holding and Vodafone Qatar. In the venture market, both Al Mahhar Holding and Techno Q saw their shares appreciate in value this week which saw Capital Intelligence assign ratings to Al Khaleej Takaful.
Nevertheless, Widam Food, Gulf Warehousing, Qatar Oman Investment, Baladna, UDC, Dlala, Al Faleh Educational Holding, Qatar Electricity and Water, Industries Qatar, Qamco, Mazaya Qatar, Ooredoo, Nakilat and Milaha were among the shakers in the main bourse this week.
The domestic funds' net buying increased substantially to QR138.49mn against QR56.41mn the week ended February 6.
The foreign individual investors' net buying expanded markedly to QR6.58mn compared to QR0.9mn the previous week.
The Arab institutions' net buying strengthened marginally to QR0.79mn against QR0.42mn a week ago.
The foreign funds' net selling declined significantly to QR15.02mn compared to QR56.24mn the week ended February 6.
However, the Gulf funds' net profit booking grew drastically to QR112.23mn against QR23.02nmn the previous week.
The Gulf individual investors' net selling shot up noticeably to QR9.45mn compared to QR4.79mn a week ago.
The Arab individuals were net sellers to the tune of QR4.82mn against net buyers of QR3.67mn the week ended February 6.
The local retail investors turned net profit takers to the extent of QR4.37mn compared with net buyers of QR22.82mn the previous week.
The main market witnessed a 45% plunge in trade volumes to 0.48bn shares, 35% in value to QR1.48bn and 36% in deals to 50,618 this week.
In the venture market, trade volumes jumped more than five-fold to 4.9mn equities and value by more than six-fold to QR14.03mn but on 19% contraction in transactions to 136.

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