Doha, July 04 (QNA) - The Qatar Stock Exchange index ended the current week's trading with a rise of 1.12 percent, adding 111.61 points to its balance, thus rising to 10,073 points.
This is supported by the performance of the banking and financial services sector, which was the biggest gainer in this week's trading with an increase of 1.760 percent, followed by the industrial sector, which rose by 1.68 percent.
In this context, Financial Analyst Youssef Bouhlaiqa told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the announcement by some companies, such as those affiliated with QatarEnergy, Qatar National Bank and other companies listed on the QSE, of their plans to support the distribution of semi-annual dividends during the current year, contributed to strengthening the performance of the QSE index during the current week and enabled it to hold above the 10,000-point threshold.
Bouhlaiqa pointed out that such decisions will contribute to attracting more investors to the stock exchange and thus enhance the market liquidity, which averaged QR 376.6 million during the current week. He added that it is expected that other listed banks and companies will study the possibility of distributing semi-annual dividends to their shareholders in conjunction with the start of the disclosure of the semi-annual disclosures next week.
Bouhlaiqa pointed out that distributing semi-annual cash dividends will contribute to boosting the economy, stimulating the spirit of competition among listed companies, and motivating a number of family companies and others to open their capital in the stock exchange through various mechanisms available in the market.
The financial markets analyst indicated that the Qatar Stock Exchange index, with the 10,073-point level, advanced towards its highest closing level since March 25. (QNA)