ISX up by 0.6%, closes at 94.6 points

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index rose by 0.6% to close at 94.6 points as trading took place on Sunday over 34 firms’ 362.527 million shares worth 540.565 million Iraqi dinars ($462,000) through 182 deals. Non-Iraqi investors obtained only one purchase deal at 20 million dinars over the banking sector and 15 sale deals worth 27.4 million dinars over the banking and hotel sectors. Shares of 15 companies went up, 10 down while nine retained their previous rates in today’s session. The banking sector came in the lead with 82% of the overall trading activities through 102 deals worth 443 million dinars over 14 firms, followed by the hotel sector with 7% through 29 deals worth 40.4 million dinars over five firms, the industrial sector with 5% of the trading through 19 deals over six firms and a modest trading over the service sector with 25 deals worth 21 million dinars. 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 (P) 1