Small caps moderate general index losses
Stocks opened with a sharp decline yesterday at the Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX) amid a negative climate internationally, but later on they limited their losses as most small-caps had a very positive session. The market’s general index closed at 4,741.57 points, down by 0.54 percent from Thursday’s 4,767.09 points. In mid-session it had actually recorded loses around 1 percent. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 blue chip index lost 0.30 percent to close at 2,518.60 points. The FTSE/ATHEX 40 mid-cap index also posted posted losses of 0.54 percent, but the FTSE/ATHEX 80 small-cap index gained a considerable 1.22 percent. The FTSE/ATHEX International index closed at 6,729.61 points, down by 0.33 percent from Thursday. Alpha Bank led gainers among blue chips with a 3.48 percent rise, followed by Intralot (1.17 percent), Motor Oil (1.14 percent), Piraeus Bank (0.73 percent) and Bank of Cyprus (0.34 percent). Biggest losers were Cosmote (-2.56 percent), Viohalco (-2.27 percent), Titan (-1.49 percent) and Hellenic Petroleum (-1.26 percent). Most sectoral indices headed southward, led by the mass media (-1.75 percent) and chemicals (-1.62 percent). The greatest gains yesterday were for the indices of technology (1.39 percent) and of commerce (0.56 percent). Turnover came to -552.9 million, including -231.4 million in prearranged block trades.
