Stocks drop 1.38 pct, follow global mood
Having repeatedly failed to «track international markets» on their way up in recent weeks, the Athens Stock Exchange did so yesterday on their way down, according to dealers. The ASE general index ended 1.38 percent lower at 2,316.54 points. The FTSE/ASE-20 blue chip index finished 1.41 percent lower, while mid-caps fell 1.81 percent and small-caps declined 1.42 percent. Construction shares fell the most, with a 2.27 percent drop, while banks retreated 1.70 percent. National Bank ended 1.84 percent down at 18.14 euros, Alpha Bank lost 2.17 percent to 20.72 euros, and Eurobank edged down 1.01 percent to 17.62 euros. Telecoms group OTE declined 1.16 percent to 10.20 euros, while its subsidiary CosmOTE lost 1.51 percent to 13.02 euros. Lottery operator OPAP fell 1.42 percent to 15.32 euros. Among the few blue chips that escaped decline were energy monopoly Public Power Corporation (PPC), which gained 0.31 percent to 19.12 euros, telecom equipment-maker Intracom, which rose 0.57 percent to close at 3.54 euros, and cement firm Titan, up 0.10 percent to 0.24 euros. Among 345 shares traded, 47 gained, 255 declined and 45 ended unchanged. Turnover was 70.9 million euros, including 2.6 million euros of prearranged transactions.
