Athens bourse at five-year low
The Greek bourse tumbled to its lowest level in the last five years yesterday as stocks, particularly those of banks, came under tremendous pressure due to the negative international climate. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 2,025.93 points yesterday (the lowest since September 2003), declining by a significant 5.28 percent from Wednesday’s close at 2,138.95 points. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index contracted by 6.41 percent to end at 1,082.59 points. All blue chips registered losses, led by Bank of Cyprus (down 10.96 percent), Intralot (10.09 percent), National Bank (9.70 percent), Viohalco (8.42 percent), Marfin Investment Bank (8.25 percent) and Alpha Bank (7.44 percent). All but one of the sectoral indices headed southward, with health stocks being the exception. Turnover reached 246.3 million euros.
