ISX closes at 94.2 points on Thur.

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index rose on Thursday by 0.6 percent to close at 94.2 points during a session that saw the shares of 37 out of 81 electronically-registered companies exchanging hands. During the trading session, rates of 14 companies went up, 10 down while 13 retained their previous rates. The session witnessed the trading of more than 1 billion shares worth over 1.718 billion Iraqi dinars (nearly $1.4 million U.S. dollars) through 440 transactions, 24 of them went to non-Iraqi investors, mostly over the banking, services and industrial sectors. The banking sector came in the lead today with 85 percent of the trading volume, followed by the services sector with 5 percent of the trading over four 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)/SR 1