ISX index down by 0.3%, closes at 90.3 points

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) went down Monday by 0.3% to close at 90.3 points as rates of shares of 14 out of a total 32 traded firms decreased. “More than 578.891 million shares worth 777 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $664,000) exchanged hands today (Oct. 11) through 325 deals, of which non-Iraqi investors obtained 54 purchase deals worth 181.7 million dinars over the banking, industrial, service and hotel sectors and a single sale deal worth 3.8 million dinars over the industrial sector,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The banking sector took the lead in the session with 37% of the overall trading activities through 76 deals over nine firms, followed by the industrial sector with 32% through 160 deals worth 255 million dinars over 10 firms, the hotel sector with 15% through 30 deals worth 120.5 million dinars over five firms, and the service sector with 53 deals worth 111 million dinars over five firms,” it added. Trading was modest over the agricultural 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. SH (P) 1