Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Supporting these deals was the announcement by JPMorgan that it would open an Iraq branch to finance these US business projects. Thus, Iraq's geography would add a price premium to its oil exports, which significantly improves the economic incentives for companies to undertake these projects, and attracts funding and investment. These have the additional benefit of contributing to the economic rehabilitation of Syria by reviving its old role as an oil export corridor for the region's oil exports. Such a narrowing implies that asset prices - priced at the perceived risk - should rise, reflecting the real risk, which ultimately for the equity market should translate into higher equity prices.