Small-caps help index over the 4,900 mark
Stocks in the Athens market continued their northward course, with the general index registering a new seven-year record, closing above 4,900 points for the first time since April 2000 due to strong interest in small -caps. The ATHEX general index closed 0.38 percent higher at 4,905.46 points yesterday, from 4,886.83 points on Friday. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 blue chip index gained just 0.05 percent to close at 2,631.78 points, mainly thanks to Cosmote and Eurobank stocks. The FTSE/ATHEX Mid-40 gained 0.97 percent to 6,194.54 points, and the FTSE/ATHEX 80 small-cap index rose by 0.87 percent, ending at 1,035.45 points. Folli-Follie led gainers among blue chips with a 3.86 percent rise, followed by Cosmote (up 2.50 percent), Eurobank (2.12 percent) and OTE (1.55 percent). Bank of Cyprus and Coca-Cola HBC had the greatest losses, 2.84 percent and 2.12 percent respectively. Most sectoral indices headed higher, except for five. Mass media led the rise with a significant 4.50 percent increase, ahead of household goods (up 2.20 percent), chemicals (1.97 percent) and telecommunications (1.79 percent). Food and drink finished worst off with a 1.22 percent decline. Turnover totaled -357.74 million, including -42.8 million in prearranged trades.