Uncertainty leads index below 4,800 pts again
Bank of Cyprus, Coca-Cola HBC and OTE telecom bucked a gloomy trend among Greek blue chips yesterday, marked by the lack of a sense of direction and an evident dominance of bears throughout the market, especially in the lower capitalizations. The benchmark Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index again fell below the 4,800-point level in thin trade after 12 sessions, shedding 0.58 percent to close at 4,791.46 points at the day’s high. Twenty-one shares lost between 4 percent and 8.63 percent. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index was down 0.36 percent to 2,548.29 points, while the respective mid-cap and small-cap indices declined 0.68 percent and 1.06 percent. The FTSE/ATHEX International was down 0.43 percent. Bank of Cyprus climbed 2.74 percent, Coca-Cola HBC advanced 1.58 percent and OTE was up 0.86 percent. Intralot, Motor Oil and National Bank also headed north. Public Power Corporation was unchanged. By contrast, Viohalco tumbled 4.25 percent, Eurobank slumped 2.70 percent, Piraeus Bank shed 1.32 percent and the Postal Savings Bank was down 1.10 percent. Turnover totaled -239.50 million, of which -34.31 million was in block trades. Analysts said the momentum at this phase appears to remain fragile, both in Greece and abroad, and advised investors to retain ample liquidity.
