Resilient small-caps again buck the trend
Greek small-caps yesterday confirmed their recent resilience, bucking the trend of blue chips which have moved south in seven of the last nine sessions. The imported nervousness of foreign markets anticipating the announcement of US inflation data was coupled with domestic reservations relating to the maturity of June equity and index futures tomorrow. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index was down 0.53 percent at 4,816.23, after dipping as low as 0.94 percent during the session. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 blue chip index shed 0.40 percent, the FTSE/ATHEX Mid-40 was down 0.47 percent, while the FTSE/ATHEX 80 small-cap index nudged 0.14 percent higher. The FTSE/ATHEX international index posted a 0.39 percent drop. Coca-Cola HBC led blue chip decliners with 2.12 percent, Public Power Corporation was 1.66 percent lower and Eurobank was 1.45 percent leaner. ATEbank, Marfin Popular Bank, Titan, OPAP, Emporiki, National Bank, Motor Oil, Cosmote and Intralot also headed south. By contrast, Postal Savings Bank advanced 1.30 percent, Hellenic Technodomiki added 1.00 percent and Viohalco was 0.99 percent higher. Hellenic Petroleum and OTE also ended in positive territory. Turnover totaled -413.930 million, including -105.337 million in block trades.
