ISX index up 0.4%, closes at 93 points

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went up by 0.4% to close at 93 points as rates of shares of 11 out of a total 29 firms traded in today’s session saw better time. Tuesday’s session saw more than 395.378 million shares exchanging hands at more than 563.872 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $482,000) through 249 deals, with non-Iraqi investors obtaining 37 purchase deals worth 46.7 million dinars over the banking and industrial sectors and three sale deals worth 5.5 million dinars over the industrial sector. Twenty-nine out of a total 85 electronically-registered companies traded stocks today (June 1) with 11 going up, eight down and 10 retaining their previous rates. The banking sector took the lead with 56% of the overall trading through 98 deals worth more than 316 million dinars over 10 firms, followed by the industrial sector with 29% through 101 deals worth 163 million dinars over nine firms, the hotel sector with 6% through five deals worth 35.9 million dinars over three firms and a poor trading over the service, agricultural and investment 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)/SR 1