Stocks surge 3.85% on Wed.

Stocks surged on Wednesday, supported by an improved climate in European regional bond markets and an advance of prices in European bourses.

The composite index of the Athens Stock Exchange soared 3.85 pct to end at 1,474.35 points, reflecting strong gains in bank shares. National Bank jumped 8.78 pct, Piraeus Bank was up 9.09 pct, Eurobank soared 11.46 pct, Alpha Bank was up 9.6 pct, MIG rose 8.20 pct and Hellenic Postbank rose 8.30 pct. OTE (-1.14 pct) was the only blue chip stock to end lower. Turnover was an improved 119.591 million euros.

The Big Cap index rose 4.81 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 3.38 pct higher and the Small Cap index ended 5.88 pct up. Bank (7.71 pct), Technology (6.87 pct) and Financial Services (6.34 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains, while Telecoms and Insurance fell 1.14 pct each.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 152 to 36 with another 46 issues unchanged. Vardas (66.67 pct), Geniki Bank (25.48 pct) and Euroline (19.82 pct) were top gainers, while Sfakianakis (10.26 pct), Elbisco (9.80 pct) and HOL (9.80 pct) were top losers.

 

Sector indices ended as follows:
Insurance:	-1.14%
Industrials:	+1.28%
Commercial:	+3.50%
Construction:	+2.96%
Media:	+3.04%
Oil & Gas:	+2.03%
Personal & Household:	+2.00%
Raw Materials:	+4.08%
Travel & Leisure:	+2.92%
Technology:	+6.87%
Telecoms:	-1.14%
Banks:	+7.71%
Food & Beverages:	+1.29%
Health:	+4.90%
Utilities:	+2.05%
Chemicals:	+5.47%
Financial Services:	+6.34%

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

 

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:
Alpha Bank:	4.68
ATEbank:	0.67
Public Power Corp (PPC):	10.90
HBC Coca Cola:	19.88
Hellenic Petroleum:	5.68
National Bank of Greece:	7.06
EFG Eurobank Ergasias:	4.28
OPAP:	12.75
OTE:	6.91
Bank of Piraeus:	3.00
Titan:	14.66