Coke bottler strong in Australian debut

Shares of European bottler Coca-Cola Beverages rose as much as 6.1 per cent on their first day of trading on the Australian Stock Exchange yesterday. The shares first began trading at A$4.48 (about HK$21.38), a 4.67 per cent premium to the $4.28 price set for institutions in an initial share sale. The shares rose to as high as $4.54 before closing at $4.46. Coca-Cola Beverages was formed by combining Sydney-based Coca-Cola Amatil's central and eastern European businesses and bottling businesses in northern and central Italy owned by Coca-Cola Co.