ISX index down to 90 points this week

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index retreated to 90 points for the first time in five months as trading activist came down to 1.9 billion Iraqi dinars (roughly $1.6 million) in three sessions held this week. “Some one billion shares worth 1.9 billion Iraqi dinars exchanged hands through 492 deals during only three out of the weekly five sessions due to the Eidul-Fitr holiday,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Non-Iraqi investors concluded 67 purchase deals worth more than one billion Iraqi dinars, mostly over the banking as well as the industrial sectors and 13 sale deals worth 18 million dinars, mostly over the industrial, banking and service 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. AmR (S) 1