Gaming firms survive profit-taking turn
Greek stocks nudged south on profit-taking yesterday, closing at the day’s low despite the fact that other European bourses retained a positive momentum. Earlier in the session, the benchmark Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index had flirted with new 7.5-year highs but sellers prevailed in the end. The general index shed 0.05 percent at 5,101.09 points. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index was down 0.04 percent at 2,700.54 points, the FTSE/ATHEX 40 mid-cap index shed 0.33 percent and the FTSE/ATHEX 80 small-cap index nudged up 0.06 percent. Gaming systems maker Intralot led blue chips, surging 3.61 percent after an Athens court threw out a competitor’s injunction concerning the modernization of main gaming operator OPAP. Piraeus Bank advanced 1.44 percent and OPAP added 1.34 percent. Hellenic Petroleum, banks National, Marfin Popular and Eurobank, along with Motor Oil followed north. In contrast, metallurgy firm Viohalco slumped 1.74 percent, OTE lost 1.70 percent and Hellenic Technodomiki declined 1.67 percent. Postal Savings Bank and Coca-Cola HBC ended unchanged. Turnover rose to -587.23 million, of which -153.82 million was in block trades. Analysts said it appeared that mid- and small-caps were in a state of limbo, waiting for liquidity to be «recycled» lower.
