Stocks take a dive on worries
Uncertainty about European support to Greece and the possibility of the government resorting to the International Monetary Fund have sent stock prices tumbling on the local market, with banks suffering the most, as usual. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 2,019.62 points yesterday, falling 3.35 percent from Wednesday’s close at 2,089.71 points. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index dropped 4.30 percent to end up at 994.87 points. Only health and utility stocks managed to buck the trend, which saw a universal decline among banks: Alpha Bank shed 9.60 percent, EFG Eurobank dropped 7.07 percent, National Bank declined by 5.95 percent, Piraeus Bank lost 5.30 percent and Marfin Popular Bank contracted by 4.41 percent. Turnover amounted to 221.5 million euros.