ISX index down 0.3%, closes at 92.4 points

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went down by 0.3% to close at 92.4 points after rates of shares of 17 out of a total 32 traded companies went up, eight down and seven retaining their previous rates. Sunday’s session saw more than 246.435 million shares worth 409.554 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $350,000) through 259 deals of which non-Iraqi investors obtained five purchase deals worth 3.2 million dinars over the banking, industrial and hotel sectors. The industrial sector took the lead with 39% of the overall trading through 126 deals worth 162 million dinars over eight firms, followed by the banking sector with 30% through 48 deals worth more than 126 million dinars over 10 firms, the hotel sector with 17% through 41 deals worth 71 million dinars over five firms and a meager trading over the service, agricultural, insurance and investment 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