Doha, Feb. 26 (QNA) - At the close of Thursday’s session, the Qatar Stock Exchange index posted a weekly decline of about 1.55 percent, ending February down 2.26 percent. However, the index remains up 2.72 percent since the beginning of the year.

In remarks to QNA, Investment Manager at Qatar Securities Company, Ramzi Qasmieh stated that the benchmark index closed the final session of the week down roughly 1.91 percent at 11,055 points, coinciding with the implementation of the MSCI review results. This helped lift trading values during the session to more than QAR 1.18 billion, with shares of Barwa Real Estate Company accounting for around 37 percent of total turnover.

Qasmieh noted that the index is currently facing several pressures, foremost among them escalating geopolitical tensions in the region, prompting investors to liquidate some profitable positions and engage in profit-taking amid uncertainty over developments. Trading in several blue-chip stocks without entitlement to cash dividends, including Qatar National Bank (QNB), Qatar Fuel (WOQOD) and Qatar Gas Transport Company (NAKILAT), also added to performance pressures.

He added that the decline reflects a rebalancing phase following the announcement of earnings and dividend distributions, particularly after the index touched its February peak of 11,515 points, triggering profit-taking in several stocks. Movements by foreign portfolios during MSCI review implementation session also contributed to volatility.

On sector performance, Qasmieh pointed out that six sectors closed in negative territory, led by real estate, which fell by about 3.84 percent, followed by consumer goods and services, which were down 2 percent. In contrast, the insurance sector was the only one to end the week higher, gaining more than 3 percent.

He concluded by noting that the insurance sector index continued to post gains in February, rising around 9 percent for the month, while the transport sector index recorded a 5.7 percent increase over the same period. (QNA)