CCHBC and OTE buoy index higher
A handful of blue chips kept the main index of the Greek bourse afloat on Wednesday while the majority of stocks sustained losses following Tuesday’s healthy rise. The benchmark’s marginal rise was accompanied by a small increase in turnover.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 921.40 points, adding 0.10 percent to Tuesday’s 920.46 points. The large-cap FTSE/ATHEX 25 index expanded by 0.51 percent to end at 317.03 points.
Observers suggest that no significant shift can be expected in the local market ahead of the next visit to Greece by inspectors from the country’s bailout creditors, set to start on September 16.
Coca-Cola HBC led the blue chips, growing 2.87 percent, ahead of Eurobank Properties (up 2.34 percent), METKA (2.32 percent) and OTE telecom (2.08 percent). National Bank declined by 4.52 percent, water company EYDAP gave up 4.27 percent (after five straight sessions of gains) and Corinth Pipeworks dropped 1.96 percent.
In total 52 stocks posted gains, 66 recorded losses and 29 remained unchanged.
Turnover amounted to 42.9 million euros, against Tuesday’s 42.5 million. Some 44 percent of the day’s activity concerned just two stocks, Piraeus Bank and OTE.
