Selected purchases push index higher
Blue chips outperformed on the Greek stock market yesterday, during a session that was subdued due to the ongoing wildfires in the country. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index gained 0.28 percent to reach 4,813.91 points yesterday from 4,800.40 points last Friday. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 blue chip index grew by 0.42 percent to 2,564.42 points. On the contrary, the FTSE/ATHEX Mid-40 lost 0.48 percent and the FTSE/ATHEX 80 small-cap index dropped by 1.34 percent. The FTSE/ATHEX International rose by 0.26 percent to close at 6,868.75 points. Among blue chips Coca-Cola HBC posted the greatest gains (up 3.74 percent), followed by OTE telecom (1.65 percent), Piraeus Bank (0.68 percent) and the National Bank of Greece (0.42 percent). The greatest losses were for Hellenic Petroleum (down 2.43 percent) and PPC power utility (1.79 percent). All but five sectoral indices declined, with the most dramatic fall seen in the insurance sector (down 4.73 percent), followed by oil-gas (1.88 percent), technology (1.85 percent) and utilities (1.69 percent). Food and drink was the biggest gainers with a 2.55 percent rise, while telecommunications rose by 1.47 percent. Turnover came to -222.04 million, of which -15.45 million concerned block trades.