Bourse index fails first test at 1,000 points
Local stocks continued to register gains on Tuesday amid mixed reports regarding the capital requirements of banks, with the benchmark index testing the 1,000-point level for the first time in 17 months but showing it is not yet ready to exceed it.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 980.52 points, adding 1.14 percent to Monday’s 969.43 points. The market’s large-cap FTSE/ATHEX-25 grew 1.04 percent to end at 336.45 points.
After five straight sessions when the main index closed near the day’s high, on Tuesday it started its decline after climbing to over 992 points, with some traders cashing in on recent gains. This may well set the trend for Wednesday’s session as well.
There was a mixed picture for banks, while Viohalco stood out among the blue chips with a rise of 5.30 percent, ahead of Hellenic Exchanges (up 4.17 percent) and Intralot (4.02 percent).
Marfin Investment Group gave up 2.22 percent, Bank of Cyprus lost 1.83 percent and Mytilineos contracted by 1.80 percent.
In total 116 stocks registered gains, 58 showed losses and 23 closed unchanged.
Turnover amounted to 84.2 million euros, against Monday’s 54 million.
