GREEK SHARES EDGE HIGHER LATE MORNING ON MIDCAPS

AFX Europe (Focus)
Apr 05, 2006

LONDON (AFX) – Shares were edging higher in late morning trade tracking
overnight gains on Wall Street, and on selective buying interest in
midcaps, brokers said.

At 11.45 am the ASE general index was 0.3 pct higher at 4,159.9 points,
but blue chips were flat at 2,272.4 points. Midcaps were up 0.8 pct
at 4,390 points.

Midcap construction holding group Hellenic Technodomiki was rising
4.9 pct to 7.66 eur after saying that this year’s group net profits
would rise 38 pct year-on-year to 84 mln eur.

Hellenic Telecommunications (OTE) was up 1.1 pct to 18.30 eur after
announcing yesterday that following consultation with the Armenian
government it has started the process of examining options for the
disposal of its 90 pct stake in Armentel.

Eurobank was down 1.4 pct to 31.56 eur and trades ex-final dividend
of 0.54 eur per share today.

Lottery operator OPAP was up 1 pct to 31.36 eur on news that the EU
will not be taking action against Greece in relation to its sport
betting laws. Brokers said that this further bolsters OPAPs local
monopoly position.

Alpha Bank was 0.8 pct higher to 31.26 eur on market talk that it is
eyeing expansion into Turkey. It is said to be interested in Deniz
Bank which has a 4.4 pct market share of loans.

ATE Bank was 0.7 pct higher to 5.34 eur on press reports that the
bank will not acquire a controlling stake in Serbias Zepter Banka.

The international tender was won by OTP Bank which acquired 75.1 pct
of Zepter Bank by offering 34.3 mln eur, the reports said.