Sixth straight day of losses for bourse

Investor uncertainty in Athens continued to push the benchmark index to new 12-month lows on Wednesday – the sixth losing session for most local stocks – but at least it remained above the crucial 1,000-point level.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 1,007.94 points, shedding 0.41 percent from Tuesday’s closing of 1,012.05 points. The large-cap FTSE/ATHEX 25 index contracted 0.50 percent, ending at 328.20 points, although the mid-caps index expanded by 0.76 percent.

October is yet to see a bourse session with gains for the benchmark, due to the unstable political climate and despite the better-than-expected course of talks between the government and creditor representatives. Athens’s intention to emerge from the strict troika monitoring is continuing to concern investors.

The biggest earners among blue chips were Hellenic Petroleum (up 4.11 percent), Metka (3.70 percent) and Alpha Bank (2.50 percent), while Piraeus Bank took a beating during the closing auctions, losing 4.84 percent. Motor Oil fell 2.75 percent.

In total 52 stocks recorded gains, 73 suffered losses and 16 remained unchanged.

Turnover amounted to 105.4 million euros, down from Tuesday’s 107.1 million.