Bourse index records a new year-low

In what has become something of a recurring theme on the Athens bourse this week, the main index started the day with gains and ended with losses.

Friday’s benchmark declined for a fourth straight session, reaching the lowest point in 2013 and bringing its weekly losses to 4.37 percent.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 804.19 points, contracting by 0.90 percent from Thursday’s 811.51 points. In mid-session it had exceeded 828 points.

The large-cap FTSE/ATHEX 25 index shrank by 1.53 percent to end at 273.40 points, though small caps gained a healthy 2.24 percent.

Piraeus Bank soared by 9.41 percent, with Frigoglass adding 4.14 percent, while Coca-Cola HBC declined by 4.52 percent and Ellaktor fell by 4.39 percent.

In total, 58 stocks posted gains, 60 recorded losses and 22 remained unchanged.

Turnover amounted to 45.3 million euros, up from Thursday’s 37.9 million, though on a weekly basis the market’s turnover declined by 10 percent.