Small-caps dominate the session once again
Stocks barely moved yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), in a session marked by higher volume, despite only mild interest in blue chips, and a continued chase after small-capitalization companies. The ASE general index closed at 3,340.90 points, a gain of 0.27 points or 0.01 percent. The FTSE/ASE-20 index of blue chips declined 0.08 percent to close at 1,852.31 points, while mid-caps and small-caps gained 0.04 percent and 1.06 percent respectively. Some blue chips recorded significant gains: They were metals group Viohalco (up 1.85 percent to 5.52 euros), mobile telecommunications provider CosmOTE (1.28 percent to 17.38 euros), Piraeus Bank (1.18 percent to 17.10 euros), casino and hotel operator Hyatt (1 percent to 10.10 euros) and refiner Motor Oil (0.98 percent to 18.50 euros). By contrast, losses were sustained by refiner Hellenic Petroleum (down 1.45 percent to 12.20 euros), Duty Free Shops (1.44 percent to 15.04 euros), National Bank (0.69 percent to 31.78 euros) and OTE (0.59 percent to 16.96 euros). Of 326 traded stocks, 183 gained, 86 declined and 57 ended unchanged. Turnover reached 186.74 million euros, including 23.48 million in prearranged trades.
