ECB decision swings stock market upward
The decision by the European Central Bank yesterday to maintain its key rate unchanged overturned the losses Greek stocks had incurred for most of the session. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index gained 0.10 percent and closed at 4,863.35 points, from 4,858.27 points on Wednesday. In mid-session, however, it had declined by 0.59 percent. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 blue chip index rose by 0.13 percent to 2,589.73 points. The FTSE/ATHEX Mid-40 gained by 0.30 percent, while the FTSE/ATHEX 80 small-cap index grew by 0.29 percent. The FTSE/ATHEX International advanced by 0.15 percent to close at 6,936.11 points. Among blue chips, Intralot had the biggest gains (up 2.42 percent), ahead of Titan (1.78 percent), Hellenic Technodomiki TEV (1.63 percent), Viohalco (1.25 percent) and ATEbank (1.08 percent). Cosmote (down 1.71 percent) and OTE (0.94 percent) posted the biggest losses. All but five sectoral indices moved northward, led by construction (up 1,45 percent), commerce (1.18 percent) and raw materials (0.70 percent). Telecommunications led losers (down 1.13 percent), followed by health (0.72 percent) and petroleum (0.39 percent). Turnover came to -325.65 million, of which -36.52 million involved block trades.
