ASE posts new gains in low-turnover session
Stocks gained yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) in a session marked by a sharp decrease in turnover. The ASE general index closed at 3,330.38 points, a gain of 23.06 points or 0.70 percent. The FTSE/ASE-20 index of blue chips gained 0.75 percent to close at 1,850.57 points, while mid- and small-caps rose 0.59 percent and 0.31 percent respectively. Several blue chips recorded significant gains, including electronics retailer and battery manufacturer Germanos (up 3.38 percent to 12.84 euros), metals group Viohalco (2.59 percent to 5.54 euros), ATEBank (2.04 percent to 5 euros), Alpha Bank (1.59 percent to 24.30 euros), PPC (1.36 percent to 17.90 euros), mobile telecommunications service provider CosmOTE (1.28 percent to 17.36 euros), EFG Eurobank (1.12 percent to 25.38 euros) and National Bank (1.05 percent to 32.86 euros). By contrast, losses were sustained by Duty Free Shops (down 1.49 percent to 14.56 euros), telecommunications equipment manufacturer Intracom (1.44 percent to 5.46 euros), construction group Hellenic Technodomiki (1.39 percent to 4.26 euros) and refiner Motor Oil (0.89 percent to 17.84 euros). Of 329 traded stocks, 157 gained, 102 declined and 70 ended unchanged. Turnover reached 150.74 million euros, including 8.77 million in prearranged trades.
