Stocks slip in day of thin trade
Investors appeared reserved yesterday ahead of local elections this Sunday, as stocks posted a small decline on a day of significantly reduced turnover. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,516.95 points, contracting by just 0.11 percent from Tuesday’s close at 1,518.64 points. However, during the day it had posted gains of up to 0.72 percent. The blue chip FTSE/ATHEX 20 index shrank by 0.18 percent to end at 726.86 points. The small-cap FTSE/ATHEX 80 index expanded by 0.57 percent. The local bourse was also affected by the low trade seen across European markets. Hellenic Petroleum outperformed other blue chips with a 2.97 percent rise, followed by Marfin Popular Bank (2.26 percent), Motor Oil (2.23 percent) and Mytilineos (2.06 percent). Worst off were Hellenic Postbank (down 2.58 percent), Viohalco (2.14 percent) and Public Power Corporation (1.97 percent). A total of 72 stocks headed north, 84 went down and 50 remained unchanged. Vell Group led the gainers with a rise to the 20 percent limit, while Ideal posted the biggest losses (down 14.58 percent). Turnover came to 67.9 million euros, down from Tuesday’s 92 million.
