18 companies’ shares went down in ISX trading

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Shares of 36 joint-stock companies out of a total electronically-registered firms exchanged hands during Thursday’s session in the Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX), with shares of 18 firms going down and 12 up to close at 105.39 points in a fifth decrease in a row this week. The ISX had closed on Wednesday at a fourth straight decrease this week to close at 107.19 points. The number of traded shares hit 674 million worth 1.122 billion Iraqi dinars (equal to $959,000 through 414 transactions, 66 of which went to non-Iraqi investors with 55.2 million shares worth 150 million Iraqi dinars. The banking sector topped the trading during today’s session with 66% over 16 banking firms, followed by the industrial sector with 21% of the trading activities through 120 transactions over nine industrial firms. The ISX witnessed the 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. AmR (P) 1