Bourse slides as investors lock in profits
Equities ended 0.09 percent lower yesterday, after gaining more than 1 percent earlier in the session, as investors booked recent profits amid a downturn in European bourses. Banks ended flat. National Bank slid 2.01 percent to 14.62 euros after a climb of more than 5 percent on Thursday. Alpha Bank gained 1.30 percent to 12.46 euros. The Athens bourse’s benchmark general index closed at 1,858.90 points and ended the overall week up 1.54 percent or 28.36 points. «After yesterday’s gains, it was logical to expect a more cautious session,» said Dimitris Skapinakis, analyst at Marfin Bank. OTE Telecom added 0.94 percent to 10.70 euros while subsidiary cellular operator CosmOTE eased 0.40 percent to 9.90 euros. Blue chips eased 0.19 percent to 910.37 points. Mid-caps advanced 0.44 percent with small-caps dropping 0.26 percent. Turnover was 106.64 million euros on 26.3 million shares traded. Losers beat winners 161 to 144 with 59 shares unchanged on 364 traded. (Reuters)
