Uncertainty at bourse ahead of crucial vote
Investors on the Greek bourse appeared to be holding their collective breath on Wednesday ahead of the evening’s key vote in Parliament, for fear of something unexpected happening, with the numbers of rising and descending stocks almost level and turnover dropping to the lowest point in the last eight days.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 825.80 points, dropping 0.79 percent from Tuesday?s closing level of 832.37 points. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index contracted by 0.88 percent to close at 303.84 points.
Titan cement led the losers, giving up 5.30 percent, followed by Jumbo (down 2.64 percent). National Bank outperformed with gains of 1.60 percent, recovering some of Tuesday?s losses.
OPAP fell 1.85 percent after Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras?s announcement on Tuesday evening that all gains from as little as 1 euro in the corporation?s games would be taxed at a 10 percent rate, abolishing the minimum threshold that had existed. As a result, OPAP agents staged a 24-hour strike on Wednesday.
In total 60 stocks posted a rise, 63 registered losses and 26 remained unchanged.
Turnover amounted to 48.3 million euros, down from Tuesday?s 71.3 million.
