ISX index closes at 93.5 points on Wed.

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went down slightly on Wednesday by 0.16 percent to close at 93.5 points during a session that saw the shares of 36 out of 81 electronically-registered companies exchanging hands. During the trading session, rates of 17 companies went up, seven down while 12 retained their previous rates. The session witnessed the trading of more than 1 billion shares worth over 1.831 billion Iraqi dinars through 330 transactions, 19 of them went to non-Iraqi investors with more than 75.8 million shares worth more than 98.9 million Iraqi dinars, mostly over the banking sector. The banking sector came in the lead today with 92 percent of the trading volume, followed by the hotel sector with 4 percent% of the trading over eight firms. The ISX witnessed its first e-trading session on April 19 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. SS (S) 1