The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) benchmark index rose for a third day across the board yesterday, gaining 1.7 percent to 4,424.7 points. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 index of the country’s biggest companies added 1.4 percent to 2,322.38. Turnover rose and all sectoral indices headed north led by oil and gas.

The following were among the most active stocks yesterday.

Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Co gained 3.6 percent, to –29, reversing a 1.4 percent loss yesterday. The world’s second-biggest bottler of Coke posted a fourth-quarter profit that beat analyst estimates after increasing sales in emerging markets.

Hellenic Petroleum added 4.7 percent, to –10.34, the biggest gain since January 14, before reporting earnings. Greece’s biggest oil refiner said after the close fourth-quarter net income rose to –86 million from –45 million.

Mytilineos surged 6.9 percent, Viohalco climbed 4.9 percent, Intralot advanced 4.5 percent, ATEbank added 3.5 percent and Motor Oil ended 3.3 percent higher.

Gaming monopoly OPAP and Piraeus Bank were the only blue chips to head south, dropping 1.4 and 0.4 percent respectively.

Turnover totaled –479 million. The Cypriot General Index rose 0.5 percent to 3,923.94. (Kathimerini, Bloomberg)