Index backs off slightly
The Athens Stock Exchange benchmark general index ended last week at 2,064.52 points, a drop of 20.97 points or 1.01 percent from the previous week’s close. Three of the week’s five sessions ended with losses. Total turnover fell to 861.90 million euros, about half of last week’s total, although this included the sale of a 24.4 percent stake in state soccer pools and lottery firm OPAP. Average turnover was 172.38 million euros per session. Hardest hit were mid-caps, with the FTSE/ASE Mid-40 index falling 1.88 percent. The FTSE/ASE Small-Cap 80 dropped 1.39 percent, while the FTSE/ASE-20 index of blue chips resisted best, dropping 0.93 percent. The FTSE/ASE-140, a composite of the previous three, fell 1.14 percent. Most sectoral indices ended with losses. Topping the list were publishing and printing (-7.41 percent), followed by IT solutions and equipment (-3.94 percent) and basic metals (-3.66 percent). Gainers included insurance (3.76 percent) and information technology (2.31 percent). A total of 371 stocks were traded last week. Of these, 232 fell, 128 advanced and 11 remained unchanged. Gainers were led by the common and preferred shares of Viosol (68.42 percent and 66.67 percent, respectively) and Mouriades (55.81 percent). The biggest losers in percentage terms were Frigoglass (22.22 percent) and Cor-Fil (21.95 percent). OPAP was again the most heavily traded stock, with an average daily turnover of 13.09 million euros, followed by National Bank (7.63 million) and OTE (7.37 million).
