ATHEX: Benchmark records small gains in April

April ended with small gains for the Greek bourse benchmark and the banks index despite the minor losses recorded on Thursday. There was more trading activity than than anticipated ahead of the Easter recess and rising stocks outnumbered the losers. The market will reopen on Wednesday, May 4.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 583.65 points, shedding 0.15 percent from Wednesday's 584.55 points. April was the second consecutive month of gains as the benchmark advanced 1.13 percent on a monthly basis.

The large-cap FTSE 25 index contracted 0.41 percent on Thursday to end at 161.48 points, while mid-caps grew 0.43 percent.

The banks index dropped 1.73 percent, but compared with end-March it expanded 1.86 percent. Alpha gave up 4.50 percent and National fell 3.35 percent, but Piraeus recovered 4 percent.

Hellenic Exchanges was the large-cap that...