Some spark still there despite negative trends
Greek stocks failed to maintain their initial ebullience yesterday but still managed to close the session with gains despite falling trends in other European markets. The Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) benchmark index was up 16.67 points, or 0.44 percent, closing at 3,764.65. All three capitalization indices gained, led by mid-caps. Sectoral indices were mixed. Food and beverages, raw materials, industrial products and travel and recreation recorded the largest gains, while health, technology, utility services and chemicals were the worst hit. Banks were up 0.17 percent. Among blue chips, Viohalco outperformed, adding 2.54 percent, Coca-Cola HBC advanced 2.50 percent and Cosmote was 2.27 percent higher. National Bank edged 0.20 percent up and Bank of Cyprus advanced 0.82 percent. OTE, OPAP and Titan also gained. Alpha and Piraeus banks shed 0.20 percent and 0.10 percent respectively. The worst performers were Intracom (-2.79), Hyatt (-1.29 percent), Public Power Corporation (-1.28 percent) and Hellenic Petroleum (-1.10 percent). Hellenic Technodomiki and Folli Follie also headed south. Turnover reached 218.36 million euros.