ISX index slightly up as trading hits ID2.9b

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index registered a slight growth of 0.4% to close at 91.9 points as traded shares of 14 out of a total 40 companies hit 2.9 billion Iraqi dinars (roughly $2.5 million). Sunday’s trading session saw shares of 14 companies going up, 13 down while 13 retained their previous rates with more than 2.279 billion stocks exchanged hands at a value of 2.916 billion Iraqi dinars through 277 deals, including six for non-Iraqi investors at 20 million dinars mainly over the health and industrial sectors. The industrial sector took the lead with 74% of the overall trading activities through 60 deals worth more than two billion dinars over 13 industrial firms, followed by the banking sector with 20% through 135 deals worth 585.5 million over 15 firms and the hotel sector with 4% through 29 deals worth 104.9 million over five firms. The ISX witnessed its first E-trading session on April 19, 2009 over five registered companies, three banks and two hotels. The banks were: Ashur International Bank (AIB), Al-Mansour Bank and the Iraqi Credit Bank while the hotels were: Ashtar Hotel and Al-Mansour Hotel. On June 7, 2009 the Iraqi Middle East Investment Bank and the Warka Bank joined the electronic trading sessions. The ISX now holds five sessions from Sunday to Thursday. AmR (S) 1