Virus-ravaged oil market collapses by a fth in 2020 PAGE 9 FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2021 30,383.46 10,435.96 47751.33 1,897.10 -26.10 PTS -98.69 PTS +5.11 PTS GOLD +0.20% Brexit to take full effect as UK DOW QE SENSEX leaves EU single market PAGE 8 PRICE PERCENTAGE PRICE PERCENTAGE 26.45 BRENT 51.41 -0.43 % WTI 48.15 -0.52 % SILVER -0.46% QGMD emerges as top Qatari Global spending on mobile apps crosses stock with 234% gain in 2020 $100 billion in 2020 TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK with the platform supporting Qatar Stock Exchange rises 0.1% in 2020 to register annual gain for the third consecutive year DOHA both premium and budget- conscious devices, according SATYENDRA PATHAK WORLDWIDE spending to Google. DOHA across the App Store and Apple said in January Google Play skyrocketed in 2020 it has 1.5 billion active QATARI stocks continued its 2020 due to the COVID- devices, a jump from 1.4 bil- gaining momentum for the 19-induced lockdowns and lion devices in 2019. third year in a row as the Qatar travel restrictions, with many Mobile spending on De- Stock Exchange (QSE) general customers turning to mobile index eked out a gain of 0.1 games and video-on-demand percent for the pandemic-rav- apps for entertainment, and aged 2020 on the back of a re- video conferencing for work covery in oil prices and strong and education. foreign inflows. Annual consumer spend- Despite the pandemic, ing on mobile apps and the year saw a number of games crossed the $100bn Qatari stocks rise more than m a r k i n 2 0 2 0 , a c c o r d i n g t o a 100 percent compared to new report. Spending reached last year. The Qatar German nearly $106bn globally be- for Medical Devices gained a tween January 1 and Decem- 284.364 percent to emerge as ber 17, 2020, up 30 percent the top gaining Qatari stock year-on-year, San Francisco- for the year. based mobile app researcher Dlala Brokerage and In- Sensor Tower Store Intelli- vestment Holding (193.781 gence said in the report. 30% rise percent), Ezdan Holding Global mobile consumer ● Group (188.78 percent), Inma spending on the Apple App Spending reached nearly Holding (169.263 percent) Store and Google Play – the $106bn globally between and Qatar First Bank (110.391 two largest distribution chan- January 1 and December percent) were among the top nels for mobile apps in the 17, 2020, up 30 percent five gainers of the year. world – increased 34.5 per- year-on-year Like most of the stock mar- cent year-on-year on Christ- kets in the Gulf region, Qatar’s mas Day, the report said. ● Total app revenue earned stock market also suffered Headquartered in Doha, Qatar German Medical Devices is a leading manufacturer of medical devices in the Middle East. Total app revenue earned on December 25 was huge losses in the first half on December 25 was $407.6 $407.6 million, nearly due to the spread of COVID-19 Trading volume witnessed the positive territory. The All percent of total buy during the Ansari was quoted as saying million, nearly $104.6m more $104.6 million more than p a n d e m i c a n d s t e e p f a l l i n a whopping increase of almost Share Transportation Index, year, the foreign institutional by a news agency. than the same day in 2019. the same day in 2019 oil price. 500 percent to reach 55.155 which gained 29 percent, investors accounted for 20.24 “The recovery in crude oil Although Google’s Play However, the local market billion in 2020 as against was the top-performing sec- percent of the total buy. prices to around the $50 b lev- store has more subscribers as trimmed most of its losses on 11.415 billion shares in the tor index for the year. The The foreign individual in- el supported some of the GCC Samsung, Huawei and many oil price recovery and progress previous year. All Share Real Estate Index, vestors also closed the year as markets,” he said. other manufacturers use its cember 25 comprised 4.5 on COVID-19 vaccines and The number of trans- which gained 23.24 percent, net buyers. Dubai’s index closed the Android platform, Apple’s App per cent of the month’s to- closed the year in the positive actions also increased to was the second-best perform- Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s year down 10 percent, while Store generated more revenue. tal spending, which reached territory. reach 2.287 million in 2020 er for the year. stock market, which closed the Abu Dhabi’s index lost 0.6 “As in previous years, Ap- approximately $9 billion The QSE index witnessed a g a i n s t 1 . 5 2 9 m i l l i o n i n t h e Except for the All Share year with a rise of 3.6 percent percent in 2020. ple’s App Store captured the g l o b a l l y f r o m D e c e m b e r 1 t o a marginal gain of 10 points previous year. Consumer Goods and Services in 2020 to log its fifth straight Kuwait’s stock market, the bulk of the spending between December 27. to close the year at 10,435.96 The year also saw QSE’s Index and the All Share Insur- yearly gain, was the best per- best performer in the region the two platforms. It saw 68.4 In 2020, the majority of points. market capitalisation rise to ance Index, all other sector forming GCC stocks for 2020. last year, recorded a 13.3 per- percent of the spending, or Christmas spending was on The bourse witnessed QR602.198 billion at the end indices made gains to support “The global distribution cent yearly loss. $278.6m, up 35.2 percent mobile games, which in- heavy trading during 2020 as trade for the year on Thurs- the general index. of vaccines and the process of Bahrain’s index fell 7.5 year-on-year,” the report said. creased 27 percent to $295.6 compared with the previous day compared to QR582.744 Both local and foreign in- vaccination in the GCC region percent in 2020 to log its first Google Play saw $129m in million this year, Sensor year. Trading value reached b i l l i o n a t t h e e n d o f t h e stitutional investors remained would instil further confidence yearly decline in five, while the revenue, an annual increase Tower said. Consumers spent QR105.781 billion during previous year. bullish throughout the year. in investors,” Kamco Invest- Omani index shed 8.1 percent of 33 percent. $112m on non-game apps 2020 as compared to QR67.7 The year saw five of the While Qatari institutional in- ment Strategy and Research for the year, extending losses There are more than 2.5 at Christmas, up 59 percent billion in the previous year. seven sector indices close in vestors accounted for 21.79 Invest Acting Head Junaid to a fourth consecutive year. billion active Android devices, from $70.5 million in 2019. Doha Bank launches easy pay wallet TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Wallet. Our commitment is DOHA to provide our clients with the latest technological ad- DOHA Bank, one of the larg- vancements. We have an est private commercial banks unrelenting commitment to in Qatar, has announced the always provide our custom- launch of Doha Bank Easy ers with easy, safe and secure Pay Wallet. Customers can banking.” enjoy quick, safe, and seam- Doha Bank Chief Retail less payments by adding their Banking Officer Braik Al Doha Bank Credit or Debit Marri said, “We are proud Cards to their Doha Bank to surpass expectations by Easy Pay bringing a new di- providing unrivalled bank- mension to their wallet. ing methods to our dear cli- Customers can download ents. We will continue to Doha Easy Pay App from the s e e k n e w w a y s s a t i s f y o u r Apple Store or the Google In addition, Doha Bank wallet. customer’s needs.” Play Store which enables Easy Pay also enables the Doha Bank Group CEO Doha Bank customers them to perform quick, safe, users to make fund trans- R Seetharaman said, “We can now download Doha Woqod opens new petrol and seamless payments for fers to beneficiaries instantly are excited to announce the Bank Easy Pay Wallet from their retail purchases by sim- by linking their Doha Bank launch of our latest innova- the Ap p l e S t o r e a n d G o o g l e ply scanning the QR Code. Debit Card to Doha Easy Pay tion, Doha Bank Easy Pay Play Store. station in Lebsayyer TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK are pleased to open a new rol station is spread over an DOHA petrol station in Lebsayyer. area of 10,800 square meters Woqod aspires to expand and has four lanes with eight India mulls tax on crypto trading AS part of its ongoing expan- its petrol station network in dispensers for light vehicles, sion plans to be able to serve the country to meet the ris- which will serve the Lebsayy- AGENCIES $28,599, taking gains this (GST) on bitcoin transactions.