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CSE rallies on reports that US troops sweep across Iraq

21/03/2003 12:09
-Significant gains of 73% for BOCw since Monday
-Financial sector surged

The CSE general index enjoyed a new day of gains on Friday, closing 2.1% stronger at 84.8 points amid expectations that the military action will be short. Meanwhile, expectations were today boosted as US-led troops swept across the Iraqi territory.

Similarly, FTSE20 recorded significant gains of 2.3% closing at 322.2 points. On a weekly basis, the CSE general index soared 3.8%, while FTSE gained 6%.

Marketrends was a major gainer, attracting 1.1% of investors’ interest and climbing 16% to 2.9 cents, while SAFS and Sharelink absorbing 2.1% and 4.6% of the turnover stood 11.9% and 9% higher at 7.5 and 7.3 cents respectively.

For the second time this week, the CSE trading volume amounted to CYP 1.35 million and the daily volume leaders were the following: The Bank of Cyprus warrants (32.3% of the turnover), the Bank of Cyprus share (16.5%), the Popular Bank (14.8%), Louis Cruises Lines (7.1%) and CLR Inv. (5%). All stocks concentrated more than ¾ of the turnover.

BOCw scrambled up 31.4% (!) to close at 23 cents, reporting gains of 73% within the last four days. It is worth mentioning that on Monday, March 17 BOCw reached a three-month low (13.3 cents), while its impressive recovery begun on Tuesday (+26%).

BOC was up 1.7% or 2 cents to CYP 1.20, CPB put on 1.8% or 2 cents to CYP 1.11 and in the “Other Companies” sector LCL and CLL ended up 2.95 and 7.9% to 14.3 and 8.2 cents respectively.

CPI with 1.4% of the total volume led decliners, slumping 10.6% to 38 cents, while the Hellenic Bank with 3.3% of the volume rose 4.8% or 3 cents to 65 cents.

Overall, 69 securities went up, 22 fell and 9 remained unchanged.