Moderate gains in thin trade
Stocks edged higher for the third session in succession yesterday, though turnover remained particularly low. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,561.20 points yesterday, growing 0.92 percent from last Friday’s close at 1,547.01 points. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index rose 0.64 percent to end up at 759.36 points. Banks in particular saw early gains evaporate toward the end of the session, with their sectoral index posting a 0.26 percent decline at the end of trade, likely affected by the negative climate on other European markets and in New York. Coca-Cola HBC led blue chips with growth of 3.93 percent, followed by OPAP (up 3.54 percent) and Motor Oil (1.28 percent). Heading south were Piraeus Bank, by 2.41 percent, and Alpha Bank (1.73 percent). The Public Power Corporation dropped 0.35 percent in its ninth consecutive session of losses. There were 100 stocks that headed north, 59 that dropped and 43 that remained unchanged. Q&R led the gainers with a 20 percent rise, and Klonatex was the worst off, down 16.67 percent. Turnover came to just 45.1 million euros, the second lowest of the year to date.
