Interest moves to mid-caps
Both the main index and turnover on the Athens Exchange (ATHEX) contracted yesterday, though mid-caps posted growth, which resulted in stocks on the rise outnumbering those with losses. The general index closed at 1,570.59 points yesterday, contracting by 0.54 percent from Tuesday’s close at 1,579.14 points. However, at one point during the session the index had risen by 1.44 percent, only to see its gains wiped out by the end of trade. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index dropped 0.59 percent to end at 763.92 points, but the FTSE/ATHEX 40 mid-cap index climbed 0.46 percent. The Jumbo chain of toy stores led the blue chips with a rise of 2.78 percent, followed by Bank of Cyprus (up 1.86 percent) and Public Power Corporation (0.73 percent). Worst off were the blue chips of Hellenic Postbank (down 2.37 percent), Marfin Investment Group (1.94 percent) and OTE telecom (1.62 percent). Overall, 77 stocks moved up, led by Akritas (with a 20 percent rise), 73 went down (with Mochlos dropping 14.29 percent) and 57 remained unchanged. Turnover came to 75 million euros, down from 113.3 million in the previous session.
