ISX index closes week at 90.4 points

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) went up Thursday by 0.3% to close at 90.4 points as rates of shares of 14 out of a total 36 traded firms increased. “More than 440.297 million shares worth 868.593 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $742,000) exchanged hands today (Oct. 14) through 360 deals, of which non-Iraqi investors obtained 57 purchase deals worth 191.4 million dinars over the banking, industrial, service, agriculture and hotel sectors and 18 sale deals worth 65.3 million dinars over the banking, industrial and service sectors,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The industrial sector took the lead in the session with 35% of the overall trading activities through 138 deals over 14 firms, followed by the service sector with 33% through 112 deals worth 295 million dinars over 4 firms, the banking sector with 16% through 63 deals worth 139 million dinars over eight firms, and the hotel sector with 34 deals worth 120 million dinars over seven 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)/SR 1