March 25, 2010 - 03:27:53
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index grew slightly by 0.07% to close at 94.8 points as 42 companies traded over 777 million shares worth 1.166 billion Iraqi dinars ($996,000) on Thursday.

The traded shares were through 367 deals, including 25 purchase deals worth 315 million dinars by non-Iraqi investors, mostly over the industrial, service, hotel, insurance and banking sectors. Non-Iraqi investors also secured 23 sale deals worth 51 million dinars.

The banking sector took the lead with 54% of the overall trading activities through 223 deals worth 638 million dinars over 17 firms, followed by the industrial sector with 29% of the trading through 58 deals over 10 firms.

The hotel sector came third with 8% of the trading through 44 deals worth 94 million dinars over seven firms and coming fourth was the service sector with shy activities through 39 deals worth 79 million dinars over four firms.

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.

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