Index slides below 2,300-point mark
Greece’s largest publisher Lambrakis lost more than 8 percent yesterday after its chairman fell ill as the broader market slid below the 2,300 mark. Index heavyweight OTE traded softer, casting a pall over large-cap stocks as investors continued to lock in gains. It lost 2.14 percent to 17.40 euros. The Athens benchmark general index lost 1.34 percent to 2,298.42 points. Analysts said investors continued to lock in gains on the Athens bourse after it rallied earlier in May, with a raft of earnings results due this week keeping investors nervous. Banks eased 0.11 percent, with Alpha Bank adding 0.13 percent to 15.64 euros. Titan Cement fell 1.66 percent to 39.00 euros. The bourse’s FTSE/ASE-20 blue chip index lost 0.81 percent to 1,220.53 points. Mid-caps shed 2.10 percent, with small-caps losing 2.70 percent. Turnover was 78.81 million euros on volume of 16.5 million shares. Losers beat winners 303 to 41 while 16 shares were unchanged on 360 traded. (Reuters) The Development Ministry yesterday inaugurated the country’s information center for the European Out-of-Court Settlement Network for cross-border disputes between consumers and firms. The service will be operated by the ministry’s consumer protection directorate which has branches in all prefectures.
