ATHEX: Stock market defies gravity for a 12th day

The main index of the Greek stock exchange made it 12 in a row on Wednesday for the first time since its 1999 heyday, as it continued its push toward the 800-point mark. The general picture, along with the recovery of bond prices, points to a return to normality for the local market after the government's agreement with the country's creditors.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 791.97 points, another 22-month high, adding 1.75 percent to Tuesday's 778.37 points. The large-cap FTSE 25 index expanded 1.29 percent to 2,108.12 points.

Banks jumped 1.78 percent as National garnered 2.39 percent, Eurobank ascended 1.92 percent and Piraeus was up 1.70 percent. Some notable moves registered by other blue chips were Viohalco's 5.05 percent leap, Motor Oil growth of 4.78 percent, the 4.31 percent advance of Piraeus Port and Aegean Air's 3.92 percent rise. OTE...