DOHA: The value of Qatar’s listed government bonds saw a staggering growth of 94.21 percent to QR12.57bn in 2017, from QR6.4bn in the previous year. Listed T-bills value increased by 32.26 percent to QR12.75bn from QR9.64 in 2016, Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) has revealed.

In its annual report released yesterday, the market regulatory body noted the value of traded government bonds also increased by 17.05 percent year-on-year, from QR3bn to QR3.55bn.

The year 2017 saw the share of total equity ownership of Qatari investors, individual and institutional, slipping to 91.09 percent from 91.47 percent on year-on-year. The share of equity ownership percent of foreign investors rose to 8.91 percent from 8.5 percent. While foreign individual investors’ equity ownership rose to 2.19 percent from 2.10 percent, institutional investors’ share increased to 6.72 percent from 6.43 percent.

Regarding investigations, QFMA had launched a total of 34 investigations against various companies in 2017, compared to 21 in 2016. Cases referred to Disciplinary Committee amounted to 23 against 11 in 2016. And cases adjudicated by settlement stood at six.

According to data released by QFMA, the regulatory body conducted inspections in 10 financial services companies during 2017.

In addition, periodic inspections were conducted in 17 companies. While lightning inspections were conducted at three specialized inspections were held in another three companies and submitted a total number of 14.

The QFMA received 12 requests of Merger and Acquisitions in 2017.

Following its first strategic plan (2013-2016) QFMA prepared its Second Strategic Plan for the period 2017-2022 in line with both the financial sector strategy and the national development strategy.

The strategy for the period 2017-2022 is based on implementing a set of dated and scheduled projects and programmes up to 2022 that enable QFMA to implement eight key objectives defined in the strategy.

They include boosting efficiency of institutional capacity of QFMA, enhancing efficacy of the market legislation, uplifting the performance efficiency of the financial services company, developing and improving financial services and products, scaling up the usage of modern technology tools, mitigating risks and promoting cooperation initiatives with regional and international institutions.

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