Latest news with #telecomsector
Zawya
29-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Foreign funds drag Qatar Stock Exchange down 44 points; M-cap melts over $309bln
Notwithstanding the EU-US tariff deal and the domestic earnings expectations, the 2-stock Qatar Index declined 0.39% to 11,205.47 points, recovering from an intraday low of 11.266 points The foreign institutions' net profit booking pressure Monday drove the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) down about 44 points and its capitalisation melted in excess of QR1bn. The telecom sector witnessed higher than average selling pressure in the main market, whose year-to-date gains truncated to 6%. About 60% of the traded constituents were in the red in the main bourse, whose capitalisation melted QR1.27bn or 0.19% to QR662.45bn mainly on microcap segments. The Arab individuals turned net sellers in the main market, which saw as many as 4,804 exchange traded funds (sponsored by AlRayan Bank and Doha Bank) valued at QR0.02mn trade across 12 deals. The foreign retail investors were also seen bearish in the main bourse, whose trade turnover and volumes were on the rise. The Islamic index was seen declining faster than the other indices of the main market, which saw no trading of treasury bills. The Gulf individuals were increasingly net profit takers in the main bourse, which saw no trading of sovereign bonds. The Total Return Index shed 0.39%, the All Islamic Index by 0.53% and the All Share Index by 0.28% in the main market. The telecom sector index declined 0.51%, real estate (0.35%), banks and financial services (0.33%), consumer goods and services (0.28%), transport (0.28%) and industrials (0.17%): while insurance gained 0.57%. Major losers in the main market included Qatar Islamic Bank, Meeza, QLM, Vodafone Qatar, Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding, Mannai Corporation, United Development Company and Mazaya Qatar. Nevertheless, Qatar German Medical Devices, Qamco, Qatar Insurance, Doha Bank and Qatari Investors Group were among the movers in the main bourse. The foreign institutions turned net sellers to the tune of QR21.22mn compared with net buyers of QR22.78mn the previous day. The Arab individual investors were net sellers to the extent of QR2.53mn against net buyers of QR0.23mn on Sunday. The foreign retail investors turned net sellers to the tune of QR1.64mn compared with net buyers of QR1.79mn on July 27. The Gulf individuals' net profit booking expanded marginally to QR0.3mn against QR0.03mn the previous day. The domestic institutions' net buying eased perceptibly to QR13.04mn compared to QR14.09mn on Sunday. However, the Qatari retail investors were net buyers to the extent of QR8.09mn against net sellers of QR39.99mn on July 27. The Gulf institutions' net buying strengthened markedly to QR4.63mn compared to QR1.57mn the previous day. The Arab institutions' net profit booking weakened perceptibly to QR0.08mn against QR0.41mn on Sunday. The main market reported 28% surge in trade volumes to 153.22mn shares, 38% in value to QR382.74mn and 57% in deals to 19,720. In the venture market, a total of 0.03mn equities valued at QR0.08mn changed hands across 10 transactions. © Gulf Times Newspaper 2025 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arab News
17-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
ADB flags telecom investment crisis as Pakistan loses $1 billion in FDI in a year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan lost nearly $1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the telecom sector in just one year, with inflows plunging from $1.67 billion in 2021–22 to $750 million in 2022–23, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The dramatic decline reflects growing unease among investors about Pakistan's digital infrastructure landscape, which suffers from high taxation, poor spectrum allocation, limited fiber penetration and regulatory unpredictability. While demand for mobile Internet continues to grow, with over 138 million mobile broadband users as of late 2024, the enabling environment for investment has worsened, especially amid Pakistan's macroeconomic volatility. Fixed broadband penetration remains at just 1.3 percent, and only 14.8 percent of cell towers are connected to fiber, making it difficult to meet rising data demands or prepare for 5G deployment. The report notes that the telecom sector has contributed over PRs1.28 trillion to the national treasury in the past five years, yet sustained investment in digital infrastructure has failed to materialize. The bank has warned that without urgent reforms, the sector may fail to deliver on its potential as a key enabler of digital transformation and economic growth. 'The telecom sector in Pakistan has experienced a decline in revenues and foreign investment, which reflects a very challenging business environment,' the ADB wrote in its Pakistan Digital Ecosystem Diagnostic Report, released in July 2025. The report singles out Pakistan's spectrum auction model as a major constraint. Starting prices are set in US dollars and often considered unaffordable by private operators, discouraging participation and delaying the deployment of next-generation networks. 'The spectrum auction starting prices and commercial conditions need to be reasonable and attractive for operators,' the ADB said. 'This would facilitate the timely and cost-effective launch of 5G technology and enable new applications and innovations in the digital economy.' Taxes imposed by both federal and provincial authorities are described as among the highest globally for the sector. Right-of-way (RoW) fees, charged annually in Pakistan, further burden service providers, unlike in countries like India where such fees are levied only once and at a nominal rate. To reverse the downward trend, the ADB has recommended a long-term tax policy guarantee, reform of spectrum pricing mechanisms, and a unified national RoW regime. It also called for deeper engagement with provincial governments to generate 'anchor demand' for fiber services through public institutions like schools and hospitals in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The report emphasizes that the telecom sector must be viewed not only as a commercial domain but as foundational infrastructure for Pakistan's future. Without decisive action, it warned, digital inequality will widen and Pakistan's competitiveness will suffer. 'Pakistan's digital infrastructure is dragging down its overall digital readiness and economic performance,' the ADB concluded.
