ISX index down by 0.5% on Tuesday

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) went down Tuesday by 0.5% to close at 89.9 points as rates of shares of 21 out of a total 36 traded firms decreased. “More than 368.345 million shares worth 820 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $700,000) exchanged hands today (Oct. 12) through 399 deals, of which non-Iraqi investors obtained 58 purchase deals worth 121 million dinars over the banking, industrial, service, agriculture and hotel sectors and five sale deals worth 69 million dinars over the banking, industrial and service sectors,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The service sector took the lead in the session with 37% of the overall trading activities through 101 deals over five firms, followed by the industrial sector with 27% through 182 deals worth 226 million dinars over 11 firms, the hotel sector with 23% through 57 deals worth 192.8 million dinars over seven firms, and the banking sector with 45 deals worth 90.6 million dinars over nine 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 (S) 1