ISX index closes at 91.5 points

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went up on Monday with 0.5% to close at 91.5 points as rates of shares of 23 out of a total 34 traded firms saw a better time. “More than 866.920 million shares exchanged hands at 1.569 billion Iraqi dinars (roughly $1.3 million) through 575 deals, with non-Iraqi investors obtaining 109 purchase deals worth 567 million dinars over the banking, industrial and service sector,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The service sector took the lead with 478.8 million dinars through 166 deals, followed by the industrial sector with 24% of the overall trading activities through 245 deals worth 388 million dinars over 13 firms, the banking sector came third with 23% through 87 deals worth 356 million dinars over seven firms and the hotel sector with 341 million dinars through 71 deals over seven firms. Trading was modest over the insurance and agricultural sectors and a zero trading over the investment sector. 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, 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