Mubasher: The review of investment weights of Qatari stocks listed on FTSE and MSCI indexes are expected to attract inflows of QAR 7 billion ($1.9 billion) from the institutions following these indices, QNB Financial Services’ recent report said.

The expected investments come along with increasing non-Qatari ownership limit to 49%, according to the report.

QNB’s financial services arm noted that raising foreign ownership in Qatari firms would support the performance of the Qatar Stock Exchange’s (QSE) general index.

Early in March, Rashid Al Mansoori, CEO of the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), urged all the QSE-listed firms to boost non-Qatari share ownership to 49% in a bid to enhance foreign investment in the Qatari market. It is worth noting that around 11 QSE-listed companies responded to Al Mansoori’s call.

Total profits of Qatar-listed companies are expected to grow 4.4% in 2018 and 14.6% in 2019, QNB Financial Services forecast.