ISX index closes at 93.7 points on Wed.

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went down slightly on Wednesday by 0.5 percent to close at 93.7 points during a session that saw the shares of 33 out of 81 electronically-registered companies exchanging hands. During the trading session, rates of nine companies went up, 15 down while nine retained their previous rates. The session witnessed the trading of 553.8 million shares worth 836.6 million Iraqi dinars through 244 transactions, 21 of them went to non-Iraqi investors with more than 45.6 million shares worth 112.6 million Iraqi dinars, mostly over the banking and hotel sectors. The banking sector came in the lead today with 80% of the trading volume, followed by the hotel sector with 12% 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. SS (S)/SR 1