ISX index closes week with slight decrease

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went down slightly on Thursday by 0.09% to close at 90.5 points as nine companies’ shares decreased. “Thursday’s session saw more than 398.421 million shares exchanging hands at a total value of 582.635 million dinars ($498,000) through 247 deals,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Shares of 25 companies were traded in today’s session, of which 8 shares increased, 9 slumped, and 8 others maintained their previous levels. The banking sector took the lead today (Sept. 30) with 52% of the overall trading activities through 109 deals worth 306.9 million dinars over six firms, followed by the hotel sector with 25% through 49 deals over 6 firms and the service sector with 15% through 42 deals worth 90.6 million dinars over 3 firms. 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