Doha – Mubasher: The Qatar Stock Exchange’s (QSE) benchmark index ended Monday’s trades on a positive note, backed by four of its sectors, particularly industry and real estate.

The index edged up 0.02% or 1.73 points and closed at 10,938.80 points.

The industry sector grew 0.39% on the back of three of its stocks, led by Aamal with 2.71%, while the real estate sector increased 0.09% after Ezdan Holding levelled up 0.19%.

On the other hand, three sectors ended the session down, led by telecommunications with 1.92%, following pressure from Ooredoo, which dropped 2.32%.

Turnover nearly doubled on Monday to QAR 591.6 million from QAR 299.8 million on Sunday, while traded volume reached 15.3 million shares traded against 6.91 million in the previous session.

Vodafone Qatar, up 0.32%, was the most highly traded in terms of volume with 1.9 million shares, whereas Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) was the value leader with QAR 78.3 million. The stock went up 1.72%.

Earlier today, QIIB announced the launch of a new bank with a capital of MAD 600 million ($57.8 million) in Morocco that will be established in partnership with Moroccan lenders Credit Immobilier et Hotelier (CIH) and Caisse de Dépot et de Gestion (CDG).

A total of 40 stocks were traded on Monday, of which 20 were up, led by Qatar for Cinema and Film Distribution which surged 10%, while 20 traded down, led by Salam International Investment which dropped 7.97%. The latter’s decline came despite an approval by its shareholders to distribute 8% cash dividends for 2016 at QAR 0.8 per share.