ATHEX: Traders take positive view

Despite the fog hanging over the negotiations between the government and the country's creditors, investors threw caution to the wind on Wednesday and drove the Greek bourse benchmark closer to the 640-point mark. The robust performance of bank stocks pointed to traders betting on a positive outcome both for the Greek bailout review and Italy's banking crisis.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 638.99 points, adding 1.71 percent to Tuesday's 628.26 points. The large-cap FTSE 25 index expanded 1.70 percent to close at 1,712.68 points.

Banks advanced 4.50 percent, with Piraeus soaring 7.73 percent, Eurobank rising 4.92 percent, Alpha grabbing 3.78 percent and National climbing 2.94 percent.

Among other blue chips, Terna Energy jumped 6.87 percent and Jumbo dropped 4.54 percent.

Cenergy Holdings, the company created from the merger of Hellenic...