Doha, February 19 (QNA) - The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index ended this week's trading with a decline of 2.490 percent, losing 286.750 points, falling to a level of 11,229 points, pressured by the negative performance of the telecommunications sector, which fell by 3.660 percent, and the industrial sector, which fell by 2.020 percent.

Financial market analyst Youssef Buhulaiqa told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that, in light of the announcement of the results and meetings of the listed companies on the QSE, the general index witnessed a state of fluctuation and a relative decline in performance, with a clear divergence between the sectors.

Bouhaliqa considered the current stage a period of market rebalancing, in preparation for a possible cycle of stability and growth during the coming year, while the element of caution remains present in investors' decisions.

He pointed out that the conservative performance of the general index during the current week is due to several factors, especially the continued uncertainty related to developments in the region, in addition to the return of rising metal prices globally, which affects production costs and profit margins for some companies.

He added that financial markets, by their very nature, react quickly to geopolitical and economic changes, which is reflected in investors' decisions and liquidity levels. With the entry of the dividend distribution period, the market often witnesses profit-taking and portfolio repositioning, which temporarily puts pressure on the general index and causes short-term fluctuations.

Bouhaliqa indicated that despite the likelihood of a continued decline in the near term, the market may move toward a gradual stabilization in the coming periods, especially after the completion of dividend distributions and the return of some liquidity to investment. Furthermore, Qatar's strong economic fundamentals, supported by government spending, development projects, and a stable banking sector, could provide significant support for the index.

Concluding his statements to QNA, financial market analyst Youssef Buhulaiqa anticipated that the current changes would be relative and temporary until the results of the first quarter of 2026 are released, which may provide clearer indicators of growth and profit trends. He noted that if the regional political landscape improves and commodity prices stabilize, there may be a gradual return of confidence, with more positive and broader performance across various sectors. (QNA)