ISX index down on Monday

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index saw a decrease of 0.9% to close at 89.7 points on Monday as rates of shares of 20 out of a total 33 traded firms slumped, compared to the previous session’s 0.01% to close at 90.5 points. “Some 741.508 million shares were traded during today’s session at 809.658 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $692,000) through 298 deals. Rates of shares of 6 firms went up while 7 retained their previous levels,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Non-Iraqi investors obtained 5 purchase deals worth 24 million dinars over the banking, industrial and service sectors. The banking sector took the lead in today’s session with 32% of the overall trading activities through 125 deals over 9 firms, followed by the industrial sector with 31% through 70 deals worth 253.2 million dinars over ten firms and the hotel sector with 12% through 45 deals worth 124 million dinars. Trading was modest over the service, investment and agricultural 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, 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