Advertising Feature Rabee Securities Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) market report (trading week ending: 3rd July 2025. Please click here to view a table of listed companies and their associated ticker codes. Note: ISX will be closed on July 6, 2025 (Sunday) due to a religious holiday (10th Day of Muharram "Ashura"). The next trading session […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has held a three-day training workshop in Erbil on the "Core Standards for Detecting Counterfeit Currency," in collaboration with its branch office in the Kurdistan Region. Organised by the CBI's Banking Studies Center, the workshop runs from 1st to 3rd July 2025 and includes participation from […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul Ghani, held talks in Baghdad on Wednesday with Russian Ambassador Elbrus Kutrashev and a delegation from Russian energy giant Lukoil. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between Iraq and Russia in the oil, gas, and energy sectors. Also in attendance were Bassem Mohammed Khudair, Undersecretary for […]
By John Lee. UAE-based venture capital fund EQIQ has announced a $3-million anchor investment in a new digital banking startup led by Iraqi-American finance veteran Hussain Qaragholi (pictured). The total $15-million funding round will support the launch and early growth of the next-generation, AI-driven platform. The new venture aims to transform Iraq's underdeveloped banking sector […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced that bank lending to the private sector grew by 1.1% in Q1 2025, reaching IQD 44.1 trillion [$24.5 billion]. This was up from IQD 43.6 trillion in Q4 2024, and reflects a gradual expansion in credit access for individuals and private projects. (Source: CBI)
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani has directed the advancement of public-private partnerships in Iraq's pharmaceutical sector, with a particular focus on expanding local production of cancer treatments. At a high-level meeting on Sunday with the Minister of Health, advisors, private-sector pharmaceutical producers, and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, the Prime Minister reviewed progress […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Speaker of Parliament Dr Mahmoud al-Mashhadani met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara on Wednesday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and joint initiatives. Dr al-Mashhadani called for deeper cooperation between the two nations, proposing the activation of parliamentary friendship committees and requesting Turkey to ease residency procedures for […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) reports that inflation fell in the first quarter of the year. The latest data shows an inflation rate of 2.2 percent in Q1 2025, down from 2.8 percent in Q4 2024. This points to a reduction in the general price level and an improvement in purchasing […]
By John Lee. The Permanent Technical Committee for Poverty Reduction Policies, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Dr Mohammed Ali Tamim, has approved Iraq's third national poverty reduction strategy, covering the years 2025 to 2029. Dr Tamim described progress made during the previous phase as positive, with poverty rates falling from 30% […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani has inaugurated ten specialised neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) via video link as part of a broader healthcare initiative aimed at reducing infant mortality across Iraq. The units are part of a 22-centre national project, offering a total capacity of 360 beds. The centres are located in […]
By John Lee. Iraqi currency in circulation fell by 0.6 percent in the first quarter of 2025, according to a statement from the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI). It said money supply fell from IQD 100.5 trillion [$76.7 billion] to IQD 99.9 trillion. The reduction is expected to help contain inflation and maintain price stability. […]
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq's gold reserves rose sharply in the first quarter of 2025. A statement from the CBI said gold reserves reached IQD 21.2 trillion [$16.2 billion], an increase of 19 percent from the IQD 17.8 trillion held in the previous quarter. It added that gold remains a vital component […]
