Index moves slightly up in thin trade
Stocks rose in a thin session yesterday, bouncing back from year-lows with Hellenic Duty Free Shops (HDF) up 5.4 percent on a report a bidder for 40 percent of the retailer offered to buy it at a premium to current market price. The benchmark general index gained 0.33 percent to 1,671.13 points, trading in a tight 16-point range. «The Greek market is at a crossroads at the moment, unwilling to move in either direction… This situation can’t last for long,» said head analyst Chris Elafros at EFG Eurobank Securities. Turnover came to 54.38 million euros. Blue chips gained 0.55 percent to 828.20 points, while mid-caps lost 0.23 percent and small-caps eased 0.08 percent. Shares in HDF, a mid-cap, closed at 7.42 euros after Kathimerini reported that a group of Greek investors, one of two bidders for the stake, has offered 8.3 euros per share for 40 percent of HDF. Losers beat winners 158 to 124, with 69 shares unchanged on 351 traded. (Reuters)
