ATHEX: Traders at local bourse reap profits

The main index at the Greek bourse slid back below the 1,200-point level it had captured this week, as on Wednesday it gave up some of the ground earned during Monday's huge rise. 

Banks were at the center of the market's profit-taking, though many mid-caps resisted the pressure and their index fared better than the rest of the market, losing only 0.66%.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,191.83 points, shedding 1.12% from Tuesday's 1,205.30 points. The large-cap FTSE-25 index contracted 1.54% to end at 2,914.37 points.

The banks index shrunk 2.98%, as Eurobank dropped 4.05%, National gave up, Alpha fell 2.64% and Piraeus parted with 1.79%. 

Among the other blue chips ElvalHalcor conceded 5.61% and Mytilineos lost 3.06%, while Quest Holdings jumped 9.27%, Aegean Airlines rose 3.53% and Ellaktor advanced 3.12%.

In total 31 stocks...