Imported jitters keep blue chips on the slide
Greek stocks kept sliding for the fifth straight session in thinner trade yesterday, in line with global markets. Nevertheless, investors appeared to be adopting a wait-and-see approach. Blue chips, especially banks, and small-caps were hit the most. Analysts said the significant fall in orders for durable goods in the US in May, forecasts of a new hike in European rates in May and large planned share capital increases in Greece were the main adverse factors for shares yesterday. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index declined 0.68 percent, closing at 4,755.97 points. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 blue chip index was down 1.00 percent, the FTSE/ATHEX Mid-40 lost 0.13 percent, and the FTSE/ATHEX 80 small-cap index shed 1.13 percent. The FTSE/ATHEX international index declined 0.83 percent. Hellenic Technodomiki led blue chip decliners, tumbling 2.64 percent, Eurobank continued is slide 2.27 percent, Bank of Cyprus slumped 2.01 percent, Piraeus Bank was 1.85 percent leaner and Titan shed 1.40 percent. By contrast, Public Power Corporation gained 1.46 percent, followed by Emporiki, Intralot and Coca-Cola HBC. ATEbank ended unchanged. All other blue chips headed south. Marfin Investment Group surged 9.73 percent to 10.38 euros. Turnover totaled -312.83 million, including -32.35 million in block trades.
