October 3, 2010 - 05:39:23
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index saw a slight increase of 0.01% to close at 90.5 points on Sunday as rates of shares of 10 out of a total 35 traded firms climbed up, compared to the previous session’s 0.09% to close at 90.5 points.
“Some 360.215 million shares were traded during today’s session at 476.582 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $407,000) through 262 deals. Rates of shares of 15 firms went down while 10 retained their previous levels,” according to an ISX news bulletin received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Non-Iraqi investors obtained 10 purchase deals worth 29 million dinars over the banking, industrial and service sectors.
The industrial sector took the lead in today’s session with 36% of the overall trading activities through 111 deals over 11 firms, followed by the banking sector with 31% through 71 deals worth 150.6 million dinars over nine firms and the hotel sector with 18% through 37 deals worth 89.8 million dinars.
Trading was modest over the service, investment 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, 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.