Coca-Cola HBC helps index stay positive
Bottler Coca-Cola HBC soared close to 7 percent on the Athens bourse yesterday after pleasing investors with a better-than-expected nine-month result, helping keep the broader market in positive terrain. CCHBC ended up 6.82 percent at 15.04 euros, off the day’s highs of 15.10 euros, while the Athens benchmark general index gained 0.50 percent to 1,809.94 points. Banks were mixed, with the bourse’s subindex gaining 0.02 percent. Profit-taking knocked mobile operator Vodafone Panafon back 1.54 percent to 5.10 euros after the stock rallied more than 11 percent in two weeks on hopes it will match local peers. Heavyweight OTE Telecom fell to a new year-low, down by 0.94 percent to 10.58 euros. Blue chips gained 0.15 percent to 890.44 points. Mid-caps gained 1.11 percent and small-caps rose 1.99 percent. Turnover was improved, at 75.40 million euros versus 68.91 million on 20.1 million shares traded. Winners beat losers 234 to 71, with 49 shares unchanged on 354 traded. (Reuters)
