ATHEX: Bourse benchmark gains over 10 pct in May
The notable growth recorded during Tuesday’s trading session, which saw the benchmark climb above the 650-point mark for a few hours, was reversed by a late selling spree in banks, although the main index still ended the session with gains. Trading volume was particularly high, mainly thanks to the MSCI index rebalancing.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index registered monthly gains of 10.85 percent in May. It closed at 646.97 points on Tuesday, adding 0.93 percent to Monday’s 641.04 points. During the day it had topped 656 points. The large-cap FTSE 25 index expanded 0.55 percent to end at 179.56 points.
The banks index declined 1.77 percent, led by Alpha, which slumped 3.94 percent, and National, which gave up 2.71 percent. EYDAP climbed 6.31 percent and GEK Terna grabbed 5.79 percent, but Terna Energy fell 1.38 percent.
OPAP advanced 4.25 percent on news it will hold an extraordinary general meeting on June 21 to distribute a dividend of 0.57 euros per share.
In total 73 stocks recorded gains, 40 took losses and 22 remained unchanged.
Turnover was the second highest of the year to date, amounting to 205.2 million euros, far above Monday’s 46.1 million.
In Nicosia the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange posted a marginal rise of 0.09 percent to close at 67.33 points.
As of Wednesday the MSCI Greece Standard Index will only include the stocks of OPAP, OTE, National, Alpha, Eurobank, Piraeus Bank, Folli Follie, Jumbo and Titan Cement. PPC stock has been removed and will join the MSCI Greece Micro Cap Index, along with Hellenic Petroleum and Attica Bank.
