Decline continues on lack of company news
Greek stocks declined for the third successive session yesterday, with pressures mounting on blue chips and mid-caps. Small-caps, however, managed to emerge unscathed. With foreign markets dominated by corrections and cautious activity, the Athens market cannot set a course of its own without any significant news emerging. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index declined by 0.72 percent, closing at 4,815.10 points, from 4,850.15 points on Friday. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 blue chip index fell by 0.63 percent to end at 2,567.11 points. The FTSE/ATHEX Mid-40 moved 0.62 percent lower, but the FTSE/ATHEX 80 small-cap index gained 0.43 percent. The FTSE/ATHEX international index declined by 0.61 percent to reach 6,897.63 points. Virtually all blue chips posted losses yesterday, led by Coca-Cola (down 3.26 percent), Intralot (1.80 percent), Titan (1.76 percent) and Hellenic Petroleum (1.67 percent). Motor Oil, however, showed gains of 1.13 percent. All but two sectoral indices headed south, headed by food and drink (down 2.10 percent), utilities (1.67 percent) and technology (1.53 percent). The only exceptions were household goods (up 0.15 percent) and financial services (0.14 percent). Turnover totaled -464.77 million, including -212.12 million in block trades.
