ISX trades over 896 million shares on Wed.

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) on Wednesday traded over 896.9 million shares worth 1.636 billion Iraqi dinars ($1.3 million) through 375 transactions over 33 out of a total 72 electronically registered firms. Rates of shares of 16 companies went up, nine down while eight retained their previous rates in a session that saw non-Iraqi investors trading over 83 million shares worth 197.5 million Iraqi dinars. The banking sector came in the lead today with 64% of the trading activities through 170 contracts over stocks of 16 banking firms, followed by the industrial sector with 25% of the trading activities through 134 transactions over eight 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. SS (P)SR 1