ATHENS: The sixth consecutive session of losses for Greek stocks brought the benchmark to a two-month low on Wednesday, while almost all other European bourses recovered after a days-long slump.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 575.52 points, shedding 3.02 percent from Tuesday’s 593.45 points. The large-cap FTSE 25 index contracted 3.74 percent to end at 154.78 points. However, three smaller stocks (Intrakat, General Commercial and Inform P. Lycos) posted gains of more than 9 percent, buoying the small-caps index out of the red to post a rise of 1.47 percent.
Banks fell sharply (down 4.86 percent), with Alpha sliding 6.50 percent and Piraeus giving up 5.24 percent. Titan Cement declined 7.14 percent, while EYDAP was the only blue chip to go up (0.35 percent). In total 27 stocks posted gains, 63 took losses and 12 stayed put.
Turnover continued to shrink, amounting to 56.1 million euros, down from Tuesday’s 67 million. In Nicosia the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange inched up 0.07 percent to close at 68.49 points.
