Index up for sixth day in a row, sets year-high
Stocks gained yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) for the sixth session in a row, despite mild corrections in global markets and the relative weakness of bank stocks. The ASE general index closed at 3,415.08 points, a gain of 25.07 points or 0.74 percent, setting a new year-high and reaching a level last seen almost five years ago. Over the week, it gained 4.45 percent, bringing this year’s overall gain to 22.57 percent. The FTSE/ASE-20 index of blue chips gained 0.58 percent to close at 1,893.77 points, while mid- and small-caps gained 0.91 percent and 1.09 percent respectively. Among blue chips, significant gains were made by oil refiner Hellenic Petroleum (up 5.49 percent to 12.68 euros), jewelry retailer Folli-Follie (2.95 percent to 23.04 euros), metals group Viohalco (2.42 percent to 5.92 euros), telecoms company OTE (2.03 percent to 18.08 euros), refiner Motor Oil (1.46 percent to 18.10 euros) and betting agency OPAP (0.99 percent to 24.40 euros). By contrast, telecommunications equipment manufacturer Intracom dropped 1.82 percent to close at 5.40 euros and National Bank decline 0.48 percent, closing at 32.90 euros. Of 333 traded stocks, 207 gained, 66 declined and 60 ended unchanged. Turnover reached 279.83 million euros, including 28.1 million in prearranged trades.
