Heavy selling of blue chips in volatile session
Stocks declined yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), pushed by selling in blue chips, a fact which prevented it from following other European bourses in their recovery. The ASE general index closed at 3,266.41 points, a decline of 10.40 points or 0.32 percent. During the session, it ranged between 3,322 and 3,256 points. The FTSE/ASE-20 index of blue chips declined 0.39 percent to close at 1,807.99 points. Mid-caps declined 0.21 percent and small-caps gained 0.63 percent. Some blue chips recorded gains, including Piraeus Bank (up 1.93 percent to 16.90 euros), casino and hotel operator Hyatt (1.81 percent to 10.12 euros), telecommunications equipment manufacturer Intracom (1.51 percent to 5.38 euros), refiner Motor Oil (1.36 percent to 17.94 euros), ATEBank (1.24 percent to 4.88 euros) and mobile telecommunications operator CosmOTE (0.96 percent to 16.90 euros). By contrast, significant losses were suffered by Viohalco (down 2.52 percent to 5.42 euros), OPAP (1.99 percent to 24.68 euros), EFG Eurobank (1.36 percent to 24.70 euros), PPC (1.11 percent to a year-low of 17.88 euros) and Hellenic Petroleum (1 percent to 11.86 euros). Of 324 traded stocks, 161 gained, 99 declined and 64 ended unchanged. Turnover reached 202 million euros, including 33.5 million in prearranged trades.