The Group
Securities: Overview of Qatari Economy Statistics in February
2018
March 8, 2018
The Group Securities presents figures of the Qatari economy as
reflected in the data available by the end of February 2018.
Data includes population and inflation figures, Qatar Stock
Exchange Indices, oil prices in relation to the approved price
in the public state budget, and the banks’ consolidated balance
sheet. The illustrative infographic sums up the key economic
data to present a snapshot of the economic situation prevalent
till the end of February – except for some data relating to
January only.
1-
By the end of
February, local population increased by about 56,000 people – as
the summer vacation came to an end – to a total of 2.700
million, compared to 2.644 million at the end of January. On an
annual basis, the populace increased by 1%, compared to the
2.673 million by the end of February 2017.
2-
QSE’s General
Index declined by 551.3 points, or 6%, to settle at 8653.3
points by the end of February. The value of traded shares
declined by 36.1% to QR3.9 billion, as well as the total
capitalization by QR40.6 billion to QR461.2 billion by the end
of February. P/E ratio dropped to a multiple of 12.16.
3-
U.S. Dollar
exchange rate held steady against the Euro - along with the
Qatari Riyal - at $1.25 per Euro by the end of February, and
lost 3.3% against the Yen at ¥105.91 per U.S. dollar.
4-
The price of
Qatar's onshore oil decreased by 5.3 % to hit $65.5 a barrel in
February, an increase of $3.6 per barrel compared to January.
Despite that, in the middle of November, the price per barrel
remained higher by $20.50 than the budget price.
5-
Inflation data
for February has not yet been released. January data, on the
other hand, showed inflation increasing by 0.9%, from 0.6% in
the month of December. Changes in subgroups were as follows:
Housing and fuel decreased by 5.4%, telecommunications by 1.1%,
entertainment and recreation by 1.8%, restaurants by 0.5%. On
the other hand, transport increased by 8.8%, food and beverages
by 5.8%, health by 5.3%, clothing and footwear by 3.8%,
furniture and appliances by 0.2%, education by 0.9%.
6-
Trade Balance
data for February has not yet been released. January’s data
however showed a trade surplus of QR16.4 billion, an increase of
QR5.6 billion, or 52.2% compared to the same month from 2017.
7-
Banks’
consolidated balance sheet for February has not yet been
released, but that of January showed an increase of QR3.6
billion in the total assets to QR1366.7 billion; the rise of the
total government and public sector credit, including bonds by
QR3.8 billion, settling at QR501.9 billion. The private sector
credit also increased by about QR1.9 billion to the level of
QR463.4 billion.
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