Santhosh V. Perumal

Qatar banking sector is demonstrating resilience post-pandemic and its short to mid-term outlook looks "positive" with interest margins remaining in the comfort zone and being highly capitalised..

The foreign funds' substantial buying interests yesterday lifted the Qatar Stock Exchange by more than 199 points and its capitalisation gained about QR12bn, as markets worldwide discounted fears of global recession.

Liquidity on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) is all set to improve drastically with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) allowing the QSE-licensed market makers to access some of its stock inventory.

Qatar's malls, outdoor retail, and food and beverages (F&B) markets are expected to remain resilient as developers continue to capture local and international demand by providing a destination and entertainment focused retail experience, according to Investment Promotion Agency..

Global recession fears continued to play spoilsport in the Qatar Stock Exchange, which on Monday plummeted 164 points and its key index retreated below 12,300 levels.

Qatar will soon establish first trade finance centre in the Near East Beltway Initiative (NEBI) region, comprising 20 countries with a combined $8tn economy, 2.5bn population and 30mn small and medium enterprises or SMEs transacting more than $2tn in trade finance transactions per annum.

The US rate hike continued to have its influence on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which Sunday opened the week weak and its key index tanked 192 points and capitalisation eroded QR12bn

The apprehensions over an expected extremely tight US monetary policy and later the sharp 75 basis points hike in rates by the US Federal Reserve had dampened sentiments on the Qatar Stock Exchange, which resulted in its key index plummet 600 points and capitalisation erode QR35bn.