Tishwash: The Iraq Stock Exchange is closed on Sunday, coinciding with the tenth of Muharram.
The Iraq Stock Exchange announced on Wednesday that it would suspend its activities for one day next Sunday, coinciding with the tenth day of Muharram.
The market stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “Based on the Cabinet’s decision to declare an official holiday for one day on the occasion of the tenth of Muharram, market activities and trading sessions will be suspended for one day.”
He added, “The holiday will start on Sunday, July 6, and trading sessions will resume on Monday.”
It’s worth noting that the Iraq Stock Exchange holds five trading sessions per week, from Sunday to Thursday, and lists 103 Iraqi joint-stock companies representing the banking, telecommunications, industry, agriculture, insurance, financial investment, tourism, hotels, and services sectors.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, is an official holiday for all ministries and government institutions, coinciding with the tenth day of Muharram, the anniversary of the killing of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and his daughter Fatima al-Zahra, according to the Iraqi official holiday calendar.
The Cabinet Affairs and Committees Department at the General Secretariat of the Cabinet clarified in a statement yesterday, Tuesday, that the holiday came based on the provisions of Article (1/First/C) of the Official Holidays Law (12 of 2024).
Shia Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, his family, and his companions in the Battle of Karbala at the hands of the army of the Umayyad Caliph Yazid ibn Muawiyah in the year 61 AH (680 AD). The commemoration continues until the Arbaeen pilgrimage, forty days after the Day of Ashura. link
Tishwash: The Central Bank of Iraq announces a decrease in domestic debt.
The Central Bank of Iraq announced today, Thursday, a slight decrease in domestic public debt by the end of April 2025.
The bank stated in an official statistic that “Iraq’s domestic public debt fell at the end of April of this year to 85 trillion and 503 billion Iraqi dinars, down from 85 trillion and 536 billion dinars in March.”
The bank added that “the decline was a result of repayments of loans to financial institutions, which reached $19 trillion and 119 billion, down from $19 trillion and 152 billion.”
He pointed out that “the remaining debts are owed by the Ministry of Finance, amounting to 756 billion dinars, and treasury transfer debts at the Central Bank and commercial banks, amounting to 51 trillion and 30 billion dinars, in addition to treasury transfers on behalf of the Ministry of Finance amounting to 2 trillion and 30 billion dinars, and national term debts due to farmers amounting to 12 trillion and 568 billion dollars.” link
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Tishwash: The financial inclusion rate in Iraq exceeded 46%.
The Iraqi Private Banks Association noted the success of the basic requirements for implementing advanced standards in combating money laundering, based on the principle of knowing the customer and the sources of their funds.
In a press interview, Wadih Al-Handhal, head of the association, said, “The Central Bank of Iraq is moving forward in implementing compliance standards and enhancing financial inclusion in the banking sector. The Association of Banks also supports ongoing awareness-raising efforts on financial inclusion.”
He added, “The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) has transformed Iraq from a grey zone to a monitoring zone, which is true evidence that Iraq has made significant progress in enhancing financial inclusion and combating money laundering and terrorist financing.”
He explained, “The need for legal legislation still exists, and we must move forward in the field of human cadres training to keep pace with the rapid digital and technological transformation in the world.”
Regarding the financial inclusion rates achieved by Iraq, Al-Handhal pointed out that, “according to international standards, the current financial inclusion rate in Iraq has exceeded 46% compared to previous years, which is a very significant progress with which we seek to achieve a rate of 90-95% in cooperation with the Central Bank in the near future.
The Arab Monetary Fund is also very satisfied with this rate and is monitoring the growth of the banking sector. It considers that Iraq is implementing financial inclusion through a sound mechanism that has contributed to Iraq’s progress in ranking ahead of other countries.” link
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Tishwash: A phone call to refresh pockets: Al-Sudani calls Barzani, and an agreement is reached to release May salaries tomorrow.
An informed source revealed, on Tuesday evening (July 1, 2025), that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani will hold a phone call with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, within the next few hours, with the aim of putting the final touches on a financial agreement concerning the region’s employees.
According to the source who told Baghdad Today, “The anticipated contact will culminate in an official understanding stipulating the release of May salaries for the region’s employees, with the payments to be made tomorrow, after the Sudanese Prime Minister signs the decision directly.”
He expected that “the financing will be done in the form of advances and financial transfers,” based on Article (77) of the budget tables for the years 2023-2025.
This agreement is expected to help calm the tensions between Baghdad and Erbil and restore some confidence to the region’s employees, who have long been awaiting payment. link
