The Athens Stock Exchange closed in negative territory, entering the last week of June with the left hand, in a session characterized by prolonged volatility and changes of signs.
Undoubtedly, the dividend cuts of 10 different listed companies (OPAP, Titan Cement, Viohalco, Cenergy, Elvalhalcor, Quest, EHAE, Intracom, Optima, and Intercontinental) had a negative impact on investor psychology, which is likely to be repeated tomorrow when Metlen, Motor Oil, and Fourlis cut their dividends.
Beyond that, nervousness from abroad, in view of the first round of the parliamentary elections in France, did not allow an upward move towards the 1,460 points resistance, with the Greek market, however, defending the 1,400 points support.
More specifically, during today's session, the General Index declined slightly by 0.28% to 1,420.06 points, losing about four points compared to Friday's close (1,424.04 points).
The arc of daily fluctuations was fixed at 12 points (from 1,419.17 to 1,431.81 points), with trading turnover at 155 million euros, of which 14.4 million euros were pre-agreed packages.
The banking index succumbed to the pressures again as it finished -1.10% and 1,227 points, some 9% off its yearly highs (1,349 points) but also gaining 15% through 2024.
Piraeus shares retreated -2.57% and EUR 3,374 (5-month low), Alpha Bank shares retreated -1.83% and EUR 1,474 (7-month low), Ethniki shares closed -2.49% and EUR 7.82, while Eurobank shares moved counter-cyclically +1.33% and EUR 2,128.
In the high-cap index (-0.31% and 3,442 points), Titan Cement's shares contracted to -5.3% and EUR 28.9, with Aegean, GEK Terna, Elvalhalcor, Ellaktor, and Autohellas losing 2% each. Lamda Development and Viohalco were down at least 1%. On the flip side, Motor Oil's shares, which today vested in its EUR 1.4 dividend, soared +3.5% to EUR 25.1. The shares of OPAP, OTE and Coca-Cola, at the same time, gained by 1%, with Cenergy's shares flying +3.1% and 9.7 euros (a new all-time high).
As for the mid-cap index (+0.46% and 2,282 points), the shares of EXAE stood out negatively at -4.1% and 4.6 euros, which are a one-year low. PPA, Intracom, AVAX, Intrakat, Ideal, Profile, and Dimand retreated between 1% and 2%, while Epsilon's shares lost 2.4% and returned to 12 euros, the price of the public offer of the main shareholders. In contrast, Optima Bank's shares soared +3.1% and reached a new all-time high (EUR 13). Intralot, on the other hand, flew to +5.4% and EUR 1.15. Kri Kri and Quest, finally, gained 2.8% and 1.3%, respectively.
