Doha: Qatar Exchange index gained 61.59 points, or 0.52 percent when the bourse closed trading at 11,977.35 points yesterday. The market capitalisation increased to QR643.78bn from QR639,51bn registered on Monday.
The traded value jumped to QR368.36m with a volume of 8,888,357 shares from 5,525 transactions compared to QR323.92m with a volume of 7,04,371 shares from 4,662 registered on Monday.
Indices of four sectors advanced today and three dropped. Consumer goods and services index gained most with a 1.69 percent gain, while transport index fell the most by 0.80 percent. From the 43 listed companies, shares of 42 saw trading today. From these, 28 advanced, 12 declined and two remained unchanged.
Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia’s stock market pulled back further after telecommunications operator Mobily posted a surprise first-quarter loss, while Kuwait fell on news of potential tax reform. The main Saudi index slipped 0.3 percent to 9,559 points as Mobily was the main drag, tumbling 6.8 percent.
Dubai’s index rose 0.7 percent on its strongest trading volume in 14 months. Abu Dhabi’s index edged up 0.5 percent and developer Aldar Properties was the main support, surging 4 percent. The firm announced the launch of three new developments in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Kuwait’s index underperformed the region and fell 0.7 percent after Finance Minister Anas Al Saleh said on Monday that the cabinet was studying proposals to introduce the same tax rates for local and foreign companies. Egypt’s index slipped 0.2 percent, its fifth decline in a row, although the pace of its decline slowed significantly compared with Monday’s 1.9 percent drop. QNA/Reuters
