ISX index down to close at 91 points on Tuesday

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went down on Tuesday with 0.4% to close at 91 points as rates of shares of 22 out of a total 35 traded firms decreased. “More than 503.616 million shares exchanged hands at 1.350 billion Iraqi dinars (roughly $1.1 million) through 409 deals, with non-Iraqi investors obtaining 51 purchase deals worth 186 million dinars over the banking, industrial, hotel and service sector,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The hotel sector took the lead with 59% of the overall trading through 115 deals worth 802 million dinars over eight firms, followed by the industrial sector with 26% of the overall trading activities through 172 deals worth 352.6 million dinars over 13 firms, the banking sector came third with 8% through 48 deals worth 107 million dinars over seven firms and the service sector with 80 million dinars through 61 deals over three firms. Trading was modest over the insurance and agricultural sectors and 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