ISX index down by 0.6% to close at 90.9 points

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went down on Wednesday by 0.6% to close at 90.9 points as 11 companies’ shares went down. “Tuesday’s session saw more than 211.733 million shares exchanging hands at a total value of 498 million dinars ($425,000) through 189 deals,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Non-Iraqi investors obtained 18 purchase deals worth 81.7 million dinars over the banking sector which took the lead today (Sept. 15) with 43% of the overall trading activities through 60 deals worth 216 million dinars over nine firms, followed by the service sector with 37% through 66 deals worth 186 million dinars over two firms and the hotel sector with 16% through 40 deals worth 83.5 million dinars over six firms. Trading was modest over the industrial and agricultural sectors while there was zero trading activities over the investment, insurance 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. SH (S) 1