ISX index slightly down on Wed.

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) index went slightly down on Wednesday by 0.27% to close at 98 points during a session that saw the shares of 43 out of 81 electronically-registered companies exchanging hands. During the trading session, rates of 20 companies went down, 11 up while 12 retained their previous rates. The session witnessed the trading of 851 million shares worth 1.563 billion Iraqi dinars through 341 transactions, 42 of them went to non-Iraqi investors with a number of 150.7 million shares worth 257.4 million Iraqi dinars, mostly over the banking sector, followed by the service, industrial and hotel sectors. The banking sector came in the lead with 50% of the trading activities today (Jan. 13) through 149 transactions over 17 banking firms, followed by the investment sector with 23% of the trading through five transactions over two firms. The industrial sector came third with 0% of the whole trading today through 81 transactions over nine companies, while trading was meager over the hotel sector through 58 transactions over seven hotel companies. The ISX witnessed its first e-trading session on April 19 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. SS (S)/SR 1