DOHA: Qatar Exchange (QE) Index gained 49.14 points or 0.58 percent during March 2013 compared to the previous month to close at 8,577.72 points.
The trading value during March decreased by 9.47 percent to reach QR4.69bn compared to QR5.18 during February. Trading volume decreased by 14.36 percent to reach over 106m as against more than 124m shares. The total number of transactions in March fell by 9.64 percent to reach 59,215 compared to the February’s 65,533.
The industrials sector led trading value during March, accounting for 30.7 percent of the total trading value. The QE’s market capitalisation rose by 0.73 percent at the end of March to reach QR469.528bn as compared to QR466.135bn in February.
The banks and financial services sector led trading volume during March 2013, accounting for 27.84 percent of the total trading volume, followed by the real estate sector, which accounted for 22.73 percent. The transportation sector accounted for 20.39 percent, which the industrials sector and the Telecom sector accounted for 15.29 percent and 7.16 percent respectively. They were followed by the consumer goods and services sectors.
Fourteen of the 42 listed companies ended the month higher, while 27 fell and 1 company remained unchanged. Total trading days in March were 20, against 19 trading days in February.
The local bourse was down 76.76 points or 0.89 percent yesterday to 8,500.96 points from the previous closing of 8,577.72 points.
The volume of shares traded crossed 3.77m against Sunday’s 2.1m. The value of shares increased to QR258.66bn from QR197.8bn
Among the top losers were Qatar National Bank whose share dropped 0.15 percent to QR133.40, Industries Qatar lost 1.68 percent to QR158.10, Qatar Telecom fell 3.60 percent to QR109.90 and National Leasing down 5.82 percent to QR61.50.
The Qatar Banking and Financial sector yesterday dropped 0.27 points while the Insurance sector rose 0.46 points. The Qatar industrial sector lost 1.09 points and the Services sector fell 0.27 points.
The Peninsula
