LISBON (Thomson Financial) - Share prices were lower in light midday trade
with banks underperforming, led by BCP and BES, while Portugal Telecom was also
under pressure.
At 12:34 p.m., the PSI 20 index was down 119.30 points or 1.07 percent at
10,981.88.
Stocks opened lower, with BPI and EDP trading ex-dividend, paring losses in
early deals only to drift lower again on low volumes with dealers citing lack of
interest and profit taking in some stocks.
"With London closed I don't expect any major market moves today, we are just
ticking lower on technical factors and some profit taking in the major banks," a
dealer at a local brokerage said.
Banks weighed heavily on the market, with BCP down 0.04 euros or 2.21
percent at 1.77 and BES losing 0.18 or 1.43 to 12.42.
BPI was 0.02 higher than its ex-dividend closing price of 3.55 euros on
Friday.
EDP fared better, up 0.04 from its own ex-dividend closing price Friday of
4.00 euros, with dealers citing improved sentiment toward the group's planned
IPO of its renewables unit.
EDP is expected to start its pre-marketing for the possible IPO on Tuesday
to coincide with the publication of EDP Renovaveis' first-quarter results and
could reach a decision on whether to launch the operations early next week.
Telecoms were generally lower, led by Sonaecom, down 0.04 or 1.72 pct at
2.28, after its first-quarter results missed forecasts at the net and EBITDA
levels.
Larger peer PT shed 0.055 to 7.77.
Zon outperformed its peers, up 0.01 at 8.80, extending Friday's sharp gains,
ahead of its first-quarter results on Wednesday.
jonathan.gleave@thomsonreuters.com
jg/lm/jlc
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