ATHEX: Investors cash in profits after week of gains
It seems that many traders decided to reap their gains on Friday following a week of growth at the Greek bourse. Sellers focused on blue chips, while mid- and small-caps continued their rise and stocks were evenly split between winners and losers.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 622.71 points, shedding 1.59 percent from Thursday’s 632.75 points. On a weekly basis it expanded 2.82 percent, its second consecutive week of growth.
The large-cap FTSE 25 index contracted 2.19 percent on Friday to end at 174.12 points, but mid-caps advanced 2.20 percent and small-caps edged up 0.12 percent.
The banks index posted gains of 8.34 percent this week despite its 1.91 percent slide on Friday, when Alpha fell 3.54 percent, Piraeus gave up 3.08 percent and National dropped 2.30 percent, while Eurobank rose 0.95 percent, outperforming all blue chips. Coca-Cola HBC fared worst, declining 4.86 percent.
In total 50 stocks registered gains, 51 sustained losses and 20 remained unchanged.
Turnover came to 67 million euros, down from Thursday’s 94.5 million. However, on average, the daily trading volume this week increased 27 percent compared to the previous week.
In Nicosia the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange increased 1.06 percent to close at 67.71 points.
