ASE follows peers after Nokia issues warning
Shares retreated yesterday, ending a two-day winning streak, as investors took cash off the table after the recent rise with the slide in European markets weighing. «Greek equities tracked European markets, which slipped after Nokia issued a warning on first-quarter results,» said portfolio manager Kostas Bouropoulos at Kyklos Securities. The benchmark general share index managed to stay above the 2,400-point level, ending 0.14 percent lower at 2,415.66 points. «Trading in the next two days ahead of the Easter holidays will be subdued, with the benchmark index likely to hover around the 2,400 level,» said analyst Manos Hadzidakis at Mega Trust Securities. Index heavyweight OTE paused a two-day climb with the stock losing 0.35 percent to 11.40 euros while its mobile unit CosmOTE closed 1.57 percent lower at 12.50 euros. EFG Eurobank, which traded ex-dividend yesterday, recouped part of its dividend after management’s positive guidance at Monday’s annual shareholders meeting. The shares closed 1.94 percent down at 17.18 euros. The dividend yield based on Monday’s close was 3.4 percent. Blue chips lost 0.24 percent, mid-caps were flat, while small-caps edged up 0.11 percent. Turnover rose to 144.54 million euros, with 21.68 million shares changing hands. Losers outnumbered winners 143 to 135. (Reuters)
