Galatsi

The Greek stock market had largely taken for granted the credit rating upgrade by Fitch Ratings last Friday, so on Monday it showed a mixed picture as the losers narrowly outnumbered the gainers and the main index came of a three-month high to post a small drop, along with the banks index. A handful of blue chips contained the benchmark's losses, while mid-caps continued their advance.

The Greek stock market entered December recording a new three-month high for its benchmark on Friday, even if that was on significantly reduced daily turnover, the lowest of the week. The rise of the majority of stocks came in the face of a decline by banks, with mid-caps behind the main push upward.

The main index of the Greek stock market rose to highs unseen since September 6 on Wednesday, on the combination of the end-of-year window dressing for many investors and the prospect of a possible credit rating upgrade for Greece by Fitch on Friday. The benchmark spent the entire day in the black and the daily turnover managed to clear the 100-million-euro bar for another session.

The decline of the stock of National Bank of Greece did not suffice to prevent the benchmark from climbing to a new 12-week high on Monday. The daily turnover reverted to high levels at the start of the week that might bring Greece once again to climbing the steps to investment grade as Fitch Ratings will issue its verdict on Friday.

Geopolitical concerns and US corporate results weighed on the Greek stock market on Thursday, but the benchmark at Athinon Avenue contained its losses toward the end of the session. This is mainly thanks to the flow of positive corporate developments within Greece in the aftermath of the country regaining investment grade.

The Greek stock market reacted after four consecutive sessions of decline to post significant gains on Tuesday, and on notable trading volume too. Traders appear to have taken for granted that DBRS Morningstar will this Friday restore Greece's investment grade rating, and if that does not materialize the bourse will likely take a nosedive as of Monday.

A volunteer with Dog's Voice looks after a puppy rescued from this week's Attica wildfires. The non-governmental organization took in 444 cats and dogs and managed to reunite or rehome most of them, with 74 still in its care at an emergency shelter set up at a disused quarry in the Athens suburb of Galatsi, it said in an announcement on Friday. [Dog's Voice/Facebook]

A large-scale operation to evacuate animals from shelters and stables in Southeast Attica after fires spread on Monday is under way, organized by the Special Secretariat for the Protection of Companion Animals (pets) that called for volunteers on social media.

The upward trajectory of the Greek stock market continued for another day on Wednesday, with the increased turnover being the main feature of this fresh session of growth that led the benchmark to yet another nine-year high. The 2% advance of the banks index leaves no doubt about the day's protagonist, with Alpha leading the way up thanks to its favorable corporate results.

Amid international concern about the manufacturing index (PMI) in China, which points to a notable slowdown, stock markets in Europe showed their concern on Wednesday with prices sliding in their majority.