Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraq Stock Exchange experienced a sharp decline in trading volume, according to a report by the Iraq Future Foundation. The report, authored by expert Manar Al-Obaidi, revealed that the exchange saw one of its worst periods in the first half of 2025, with monthly trading volume dropping by 38% compared to the same period in 2024. This was due to a lack of foreign investment and a concentration of trading among a few companies.
According to the report, the average monthly trading value plummeted from 53 billion Dinars in the first half of 2024 to just 32 billion Dinars in the first half of 2025. This decline culminated in June 2025, when the market recorded its lowest trading volume in two years at just 22 billion Dinars. The report, however, notes that some listed companies have strong financial results, but they fail to attract investors. The key problem, according to Al-Obaidi, is that trading is concentrated among only five of the 104 listed companies, which account for more than 85% of the total trading volume.
Al-Obaidi made several recommendations to address the decline, including:
- Launching a comprehensive marketing plan to raise awareness among Iraqis about the importance of investing in the stock market.
- Encouraging more private companies to become public shareholders and get listed on the exchange.
- Listing major strategic companies such as government banks, public insurance firms, Iraqi Airways, and profitable companies from the ministries of Communications, Oil, and Industry.
- Introducing modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to enhance transparency and compliance with competition laws.
Al-Obaidi also warns of a noticeable growth in trading on unregulated Forex platforms, which attracts young Iraqis and increases the risk of financial loss.
