Blue chips fail to keep index above 4,000 pts
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) benchmark general index climbed for a third day, adding 21.88 points, or 0.6 percent, to 3,965.75, after rising as much as 1.6 percent during the session. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 index of the country’s biggest companies increased 0.6 percent to 2,053.06 points. Bank of Cyprus added 2.4 percent to 7.84 euros, for a third day of gains. The island’s biggest lender said its board will meet on April 30 to discuss a possible issue of Tier-2 capital, according to a bourse filing. Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company advanced 1.9 percent to 30.56 euros, the highest in a week. The world’s second-largest bottler of Coke drinks gained after the Coca-Cola Company said profit in the first quarter rose as emerging markets helped to boost sales. Coca-Cola HBC gets more than half of its annual revenues from emerging markets. Public Power Corporation climbed 2.6 percent to 27 euros, snapping a four-day decline. Greece’s biggest electricity producer plans to build an anthracite-powered plant in neighboring Albania in partnership with Germany’s RWE AG and Greece’s Titan Cement Co. Titan rose 1.2 percent to 27.78 euros, increasing for a fourth day. Metals group Viohalco surged 6 percent and gaming firm OPAP remained northbound, adding 2.1 percent.(Bloomberg, Kathimerini)
