Market follows Europe, climbs over 4,200 points
Stocks gained yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), as the local market responded to the buoyant mood on other European bourses. The ASE composite share price index closed at 4,231.60 points, a gain of 40.78 points or 0.97 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index of blue chips gained 0.96 percent to close at 2,297.97 points, while mid- and small-caps added 0.77 percent and 1.06 percent respectively. The FTSE/Athex International index gained 0.91 percent, closing at 5,912.41 points. Among blue chips, significant gains were posted by refiner Hellenic Petroleum (up 3.04 percent to 12.22 euros), metals group Viohalco (2.60 percent to 8.68 euros), technology holding company Intracom (2.54 percent to 6.46 euros), bottler Coca-Cola HBC (2.50 percent to 28.22 euros), EFG Eurobank (2.42 percent to 32.20 euros), Alpha Bank (1.99 percent to 32.74 euros), National Bank (1.16 percent to 39.98 euros), Piraeus Bank (1.03 percent to 25.60 euros) and refiner Motor Oil (1 percent to 24.20 euros). By contrast, significant losses were sustained by ATEbank (down 1.51 percent to 5.22 euros) and betting company OPAP (1.04 percent to 30.40 euros). Out of 324 traded shares, 194 gained, 79 declined and 51 ended unchanged. Turnover reached 260.18 million euros, including 18.18 million in prearranged trades.
