ISX index closes at 90 points

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) went up Wednesday by 0.2% to close at 90 points as rates of shares of 12 out of a total 34 traded firms increased. “More than 370.717 million shares worth 896.545 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $766,000) exchanged hands today (Oct. 13) through 338 deals, of which non-Iraqi investors obtained 40 purchase deals worth 124 million dinars over the banking, industrial, service, agriculture and hotel sectors and three sale deals worth 8.3 million dinars over the banking, industrial and service sectors,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The service sector took the lead in the session with 51% of the overall trading activities through 136 deals over four firms, followed by the industrial sector with 21% through 116 deals worth 192 million dinars over 12 firms, the banking sector with 15% through 60 deals worth 134.7 million dinars over seven firms, and the hotel sector with 22 deals worth 106 million dinars over six firms,” it added. Trading was modest over the 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. SH (S) 1