Greek shares reverse losses at midsession on selective blue chip buying
AFX Europe (Focus)
Jan 04, 2005
ATHENS (AFX) – Shares recovered from early losses to head higher
midsession on selective blue chip buying as energy monopoly PPC
outperformed, gaining nearly 3 pct, brokers said.
PPC rose 2.87 pct to 21.48 eur, playing catch up with recent gains in
blue chip peers.
The Athens bourse benchmark general edged up 0.18 pct to 2,829.73
points after testing earlier the 2,800 point resistance level.
Europeýs largest betting company OPAP was off 0.39 pct at 20.50
eur. Daily To Vima reported that the governmentn may proceed with a
share placement in OPAP within January cutting the stateýs current 51
pct stake in the company.
Blue chips were 0.11pct. firmer.
Emporiki Bank, 11 pct owned by Franceýs Credit Agricole, gained 0.85
pct to 23.78 eur. Yesterday, a senior Emporiki Bank source said that
the bank intends to sell its subsidiaries in Armenia and Georgia as
part of the groupýs restructuring process.
Brokers described the move as positive, saying that returns from both
markets for Emporiki were marginal.
Bellwether National Bank was unchanged at 24.96 eur.
Index heavyweight OTE Telecom, Greeceýs largest phone company, lost
2.20 pct at 13.34 eur. Subsidiary Cosmote eased 0.13 pct at 14.94 eur.
Small caps were down 0.04 pct and mid caps advanced 0.90 pct.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress