ISX down by 0.4% in first session this week

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went 0.4% down in the first session this week to close at 93.7 points as rates of shares of 21 out of a total 37 traded in the national capital market decreased. Sunday’s session saw more than 535.357 million shares exchanging hands at 693.405 million Iraqi dinars through 153 deals with non-Iraqi investors grabbing seven purchase deals worth 18.4 million dinars over the banking, industrial and hotel sectors. Thirty-seven out of a total 84 electronically-registered companies traded shares during today’s session, 21 of whom went down, four up while 12 retained their previous rates. The banking sector took the lead with 70% of the overall trading through 49 deals worth 490 million dinars over 11 firms, followed by the hotel sector with 20% through 24 deals worth 131 million dinars over five firms, the industrial sector with 6% through 48 deals worth 46 million dinars over 13 firms and a poor trading over the service, investment and agricultural sectors. 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