ISX opens week with 0.2% down

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) opened this week on Sunday with 0.2% down in its index to close at 90.5 points as rates of shares of 13 out of a total 21 traded firms decreased compared to the previous session’s 0.2% down to close at 90.7 points. “More than 237 million shares worth 427.413 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $365,000) exchanged hands today (Sept. 19) through 172 deals,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Non-Iraqi investors obtained 22 purchase deals worth 74.4 million dinars over the banking sector, which took the lead in today’s session with 61% of the overall trading activities through 89 deals worth more than 246 million dinars over nine firms. The service sector came second with 19% through 45 deals worth 82.6 million dinars, followed by the hotel sector with 18% through 28 deals worth 80 million dinars over five firms. Trading was modest over the industrial sector while it was zero over the investment, insurance and agricultural sectors. The ISX witnessed its first E-trading session on April 19, 2009 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, 2009, 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 (S) 1