ISX closes at 97 points on Monday

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went down on Monday by 0.9 percent to close at 97.2 points during a session that saw the shares of 39 out of 81 electronically-registered companies exchanging hands. During the trading session, rates of 13 companies went up, 13 down while 13 retained their previous rates. The session witnessed the trading of 584 million shares worth 976 million Iraqi dinars through 346 transactions, 63 of them went to non-Iraqi investors with a number of more than 228.3 million shares worth more than 278.7 million Iraqi dinars, mostly over the banking sector. The banking sector came in the lead with 73% of the trading activities today (Jan. 18) through 197 transactions over 17 banking firms, followed by the hotels sector with 15% of the trading over eight 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 1