Dimitris Lois

Bank stocks continued to fall on Wednesday in the wake of a European Central Bank decision that foresees eurozone lenders having to set aside funds to cover 100 percent of loans that turn nonperforming from January 2018. The news reinforced market concerns that, one way or another, local banks will need a fresh cash injection.

Drinks bottler Coca-Cola HBC AG said first-quarter sales volumes rose 7.2 percent, helped by four extra selling days versus last year, the earlier timing of the Easter holiday and a good performance in Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Coca-Cola HBC AG, the second-largest bottler of Coca-Cola Company brands, on Thursday reported a net profit slide of 11 percent in the six-month period ending June 27.

Income fell to 99 million euros from 111 million a year earlier. Net sales revenue declined 6 percent to 3.183 million from 3.381 million in the same period.