ISX trades over 1.2 billion shares on Thursday

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) traded on Thursday over more than 1.2 billion shares worth more 2 billion Iraqi dinars ($2 million) through 483 transactions over 33 out of a total 70 electronically registered firms. Rates of shares of 14 companies went up, 10 down while nine retained their previous rates in a session that saw non-Iraqi investors traded over 299.6 million shares worth 489.3 million Iraqi dinars, about 22% of the overall trading. The banking sector came in the lead today with 84% of the shares and 68% of the trading activities through transactions over stocks of 13 banking firms, followed by the industrial sector which witnessed transactions over 10 firms. The ISX witnessed the first e-trading session on April 19 over five registered companies, three banks and two hotels. The banks were the Ashur International Bank (AIB), Al-Mansour Bank and the Iraqi Credit Bank while the hotels were the 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 three electronic sessions on a weekly basis: Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. SH (S)/SR 1