ISX closes at 95.6 points on Monday

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went down slightly on Monday by 0.4 percent to close at 95.6 points during a session that saw the shares of 39 out of 81 electronically-registered companies exchanging hands. During the trading session, rates of eight companies went up, 24 down while seven retained their previous rates. The session witnessed the trading of 1.361 billion shares worth 3 billion Iraqi dinars (nearly $2.5 million) through 282 transactions, 11 of them went to non-Iraqi investors with a number of 883 million shares worth 1.283 billion Iraqi dinars, mostly over the banking and industrial sectors. The banking sector came in the lead today with 55% of the trading volume, followed by the hotel sector with 39% of the trading over six firms. The ISX witnessed its 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. SH (S)/SR 2