Stocks end sharply lower

Greek stocks came under strong selling pressure in the Athens Stock Exchange on Wednesday to end lower, following a new and sharp increase in bond spreads and speculation over bank stocks. The composite index fell 1.79 pct to end just over the 1,400 level, at 1,400.06 points, with turnover remaining a low 78.77 million euros. The Big Cap index dropped 2.21 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 1.07 pct down and the Small Cap index fell 1.48 pct. Health (1.90 pct) and Chemicals (0.38 pct) were the only sectors to post gains, while Banks (3.59 pct), Utilities (2.44 pct) and Raw Materials (2.98 pct) suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.
 Broadly, decliners led advancers by 45 to 101 with another 48 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: unchanged
Industrials:  -0.76%
Commercial:  -0.68%
Construction:  -0.03%
Media:  -1.98%
Oil & Gas:  -0.88%
Personal & Household:  -1.02%
Raw Materials:  -2.98%
Travel & Leisure:  -0.60%
Technology:  -0.59%
Telecoms:  -1.38%
Banks:  -3.59%
Food & Beverages:  -0.54%
Health:  +1.90%
Utilities:  -2.44%
Chemicals:  +0.38%
Financial Services:  -2.67%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, OTE, Alpha Bank and OPAP.

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index
closed in euros as follows:

Alpha Bank:  3.54
ATEbank:  0.44
Public Power Corp (PPC):  10.75
HBC Coca Cola:  18.80
Hellenic Petroleum:  7.15
National Bank of Greece:  5.05
EFG Eurobank Ergasias:  3.30
OPAP:  14.65
OTE:  7.87
Bank of Piraeus:  1.03
Titan:  18.00