Mid-, small-caps lead index to 91-month high
Greek stocks nudged up to a 91-month high yesterday, with renewed interest in mid-caps and small-caps which offset initial profit-taking pressures. Interest in blue chips appeared to be affected by UBS’s report of substantial losses in the first half and Citigroup’s negative projections for third-quarter results. The benchmark Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed 0.22 percent higher at 5,134.69 points. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index added 0.14 percent to 2,705.80 points, while the mid-cap and small-cap indices gained 0.87 percent and 1.00 percent respectively. The FTSE/ATHEX International was up 0.23 percent. ATEbank outperformed among blue chips, surging 4 percent to 4.16 euros, while OTE and Alpha Bank added 1.31 percent and 1.16 percent, respectively. Marfin Popular Bank, Public Power Corporation, Hellenic Technodomiki and OPAP also headed north. By contrast, Postal Savings Bank dropped 1.30 percent, Emporiki Bank was 1.16 percent lower and Intralot shed 1.10 percent after last week’s substantial gains. Motor Oil, Eurobank, Cosmote, National Bank, Piraeus Bank, Viohalco, Hellenic Petroleum and Titan were also lower. Bank of Cyprus and Coca-Cola HBC were unchanged. Turnover rose to -349.56 million, of which -20.87 million was in block trades.
