Small correction owing to blue chips’ slide
Blue chips pulled the Athens market’s general index slightly lower yesterday, despite strong interest in small-caps and mid-caps throughout the session. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed 0.27 percent lower at 4,892.28 points yesterday, from 4,905.46 points on Monday. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 blue chip index lost 0.29 percent of its value to end at 2,624.14 points. By contrast, the FTSE/ATHEX Mid-40 gained 0.14 percent to 6,202.97 points, and the FTSE/ATHEX 80 small-cap index rose by 0.80 percent, ending at 1,043.69 points. The FTSE/ATHEX International dropped by 0.19 percent to 6,990.60 points. PPC outperformed among blue chips with a 3.20 percent rise, followed by Folli-Follie (up 1.93 percent), Postal Savings Bank (0.97 percent) and National Bank (0.71 percent). On the losing side, EFG Eurobank fell by 2.57 percent, Cosmote slipped 2 percent, Bank of Cyprus was down 1.23 percent and Hellenic Petroleum slid 1.22 percent. Sectoral indices gave a mixed picture, with utilities rising by a considerable 2.71 percent. Chemicals rose by 1.39 percent and media continued their upward course, gaining 0.85 percent. Petroleum stocks dropped by 0.65 percent. Turnover totaled -357 million, including -43 million in prearranged trades.
