Market resumes climb, approaches 4,000 pts
Stocks resumed their upward course yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), in sync with the recovery in other European markets. The ASE composite share price index closed at 3,968.05 points, a gain of 74.09 points or 1.90 percent. The closing level was the highest since September 2000. The FTSE/Athex 20 index of blue chips gained 1.86 percent to close at 2,182.43 points, while mid- and small-caps gained 2.15 percent and 4.08 percent respectively. The new FTSE/Athex International index gained 1.93 percent to close at 5,438.31 points. Among blue chips, the biggest gainers were refiner Hellenic Petroleum (up 4.07 percent to 12.10 euros), Emporiki Bank (3.75 percent to 29.90 euros), refiner Motor Oil (3.74 percent to 22.74 euros), telecommunications equipment manufacturer Intracom (3.13 percent to 7.24 euros), telecommunications company OTE (3.08 percent to 18.72 euros), National Bank (2.95 percent to 38.40 euros) and EFG Eurobank (2.57 percent to 31.16 euros). By contrast, losses were sustained by Duty Free Shops (down 1.44 percent to 16.38 euros) and casino and hotel operator Hyatt (0.36 percent to 11.06 euros). Out of 323 traded shares, 253 gained, 38 declined and 32 ended unchanged. Turnover reached 398.86 million euros, including 62.8 million in prearranged trades.
