The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) experienced a significant downturn this week, with its main index falling by over 100 points ahead of the upcoming MSCI index review. The decline resulted in a market capitalisation loss exceeding QR 3 billion, driven by notable selling pressure across the banking, consumer goods, and insurance sectors.
Weekly Market Performance
The 20-stock Qatar Index concluded the week with a 0.91% drop. This negative sentiment was reflected across the board, with the Total Return Index also shedding 0.91% and the All Share Index declining by 0.94%. The All Islamic Index saw a more moderate decrease of 0.63%. Overall market capitalisation fell by QR 3.28 billion, or 0.5%, to QR 656.33 billion, with mid and small-cap segments feeling the most pressure.
Trading activity also slowed, with both the main and junior markets reporting a decrease in turnover and volume. The main market saw trade volumes contract by 13% to 513.53 million shares and value dip 5% to QR 1.6 billion.
Sector Gains and Losses
The banking and financial services sector was the hardest hit, its index falling by 2.01%. Consumer goods and services followed with a 1.54% decline, and the insurance sector dropped by 1.14%.
Despite the overall bearish market, several sectors posted gains. The telecommunications sector led the way with a strong 3.18% increase. The transport sector rose by 1.16%, real estate gained 0.63%, and the industrials sector edged up by 0.06%. More than 60% of traded stocks ended the week in the red.
Investor Sentiment and Activity
An increase in net selling from local retail investors was a key factor in the market’s performance. Their net selling surged to QR 31.29 million from QR 17.42 million the previous week. Similarly, Gulf retail investors became net sellers, offloading shares worth QR 11.72 million.
Gulf institutional investors reduced their net buying significantly, which fell to QR 61.02 million from QR 97.94 million a week earlier. In contrast, foreign institutions shifted their position, becoming net buyers to the tune of QR 12.73 million. Arab retail investors also turned bullish, with net buying of QR 10.06 million.
Corporate and Economic Highlights
Several key developments occurred during the week. Dukhan Bank signed an agreement with Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, to introduce Shariah-compliant strategic products to the Qatari market. Elsewhere, Ahlibank Qatar completed a QR 500 million debt issuance. In a significant logistics move, Gulf Warehousing and QC+ announced plans for a major regional hub for fine art storage within a Doha free zone. It was also a notable week for Baladna, as the company is set to find a place in the Qatar Stock Exchange’s main barometer from 1 December 2025.
On the economic front, government data revealed that Qatar awarded over QR 15 billion in projects through tenders and auctions in the third quarter of 2025. However, the country’s public budget recorded a QR 1.4 billion deficit during the same period. The week’s downturn marks a shift from recent trends, where the Qatar Stock Exchange remained bullish for several consecutive weeks.
