ISX higher this week by more than 43 points

BAGHDAD, Sept. 19 (Iraqi News) – Iraq’s Stock Exchange (ISX) index was up by more than 43 points this week for the first time in more than a year. Traded shares during this week’s sessions exceeded 1.568 billion at a total value of over 2.75 billion Iraqi dinars (nearly $2.3 million). On Sept. 14, 2008, the ISX opened its session, the first this week, with one contract worth 866,000 shares. The contract was concluded by an Iraqi company, which bought the shares from Mosul Bank at a value of 1.15 Iraqi dinars per share. On Sept. 18, 2008, the ISX index was up by 0.545 percent to settle at 43.347 points at the closing of Thursday’s session, the last this week. Traded shares in Thursday’s session exceeded 565 million at a total value of over 838 million Iraqi dinars (nearly $698,000) by implementing 217 contracts. The banking sector achieved the highest trading volume, while the industrial sector came second. Non-Iraqi investors participated by implementing 41 contracts. The banking sector achieved a trading volume of 78.8 percent and a number of traded shares of 92.7 percent. Shares of 13 banking companies were traded, of which shares of five companies went down, and eight maintained their previous levels. The industrial sector came second concerning the number of traded shares with a percentage of 5. Twelve companies were traded in the industrial sector, of which five shares jumped, two slumped and five others maintained their previous levels. The Iraqi Stock Exchange, established under Law No. 74 of the year 2004, held its first session on June 24, 2004. The stock market holds three sessions a week: Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. MH (S)/AmR 1