Profit-taking spells end of ASE streak of gains
Stocks declined yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), as investors sought to lock in profits from the previous three sessions, during which the market gained 2.27 percent. The ASE compound share index closed at 4,116.03 points, a drop of 13.90 points or 0.34 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index of blue chips declined 0.38 percent to close at 2,264.91 points Mid-caps rose 0.16 percent and small-caps declined 0.59 percent. The FTSE/Athex International declined 0.28 percent, closing at 5,905.87 points. Just five blue chips gained: Emporiki Bank (up 3.48 percent to 23.80 euros), technology holding company Intracom (2.72 percent to 5.28 euros), ATEbank (2.45 percent to 4.18 euros), Piraeus Bank (0.37 percent to 21.72 euros) and betting company OPAP (0.29 percent to 28 euros). Hardest hit were refiner Hellenic Petroleum (2.57 percent to 9.84 euros), bottler Coca-Cola HBC (1.48 percent to 26.60 euros), mobile telecommunications company Cosmote (1.37 percent 18.70 euros), telecoms firm OTE (1.21 percent to 19.60 euros) and refiner Motor Oil (1.16 percent to 20.50 euros). Of 312 traded stocks, 92 gained, 164 declined and 56 ended unchanged. Turnover reached 226.02 million euros, including 15.40 million in prearranged trades.
