ADMIE Holdings

The Greek stock market benchmark ended its four-session rising streak on Monday, as the major surge in the Public Power Corporation's stock price was not enough to avert the slide in the main index that was largely brought on by anticipated profit taking by traders.

Greek stocks regained some of the ground lost during Tuesday's trade in the closing auctions. The benchmark's northbound streak was halted after five sessions, while the banks index retained its growth course - but only just.

A mixed session at the bourse on Friday brought the first post-election week to a close with losses for the benchmark, while the market also used some of its cash availability to cover the bond issue by National Bank.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 858.33 points, shedding 0.58 percent from Thursday's 863.33 points. On a weekly basis it shrank 4.06 percent.

Athinon Avenue continued to record gains on Tuesday, with the benchmark edging up to a fresh 13-month high, while turnover exceeded 100 million euros again.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 845.95 points, adding 0.38 percent to Monday's 842.76 points. The large-cap FTSE-25 index expanded 0.37 percent to end at 2,160.05 points.

The Greek stock market's usual buying targets - i.e. banks and Public Power Corporation - secured considerable gains at the start of the week, taking the benchmark to a new 13-month high as the market displayed its excitement at the formal announcement of a snap general election.

The stock market braved its early losses and the drops on most other European bourses to revert to gains by the closing bell on Friday and see its benchmark register monthly gains of 7.37 percent in May. Public Power Corporation and banks led the price rebound, with turnover topping 150 million euros, as the positive momentum that started last Monday continued.

The closing auctions determined the hue of the indexes at the Greek stock market on Thursday, securing some gains for the benchmark, blue chips and banks, while the mid-cap index closed without a change. There was notable growth in early trade, but those gains evaporated later on before the auctions pushed the majority of stocks back into positive territory.

Traders continued to sell Greek stocks on Thursday as conflicting statements from officials on the local economy and an adverse international environment kept up the pressure on local stock prices. Even so, both the indexes and the prices managed to rise above the day's low by closing time.

Traders continued to sell Greek stocks on Thursday as conflicting statements from officials on the local economy and an adverse international environment kept up the pressure on local stock prices. Even so, both the indexes and the prices managed to rise above the day's low by closing time.

The decline of OTE telecom and profit taking in bank stocks saw the benchmark of the Greek bourse ease somewhat on Wednesday from Tuesday's nine-month highs, although the majority of stocks remained in the black for one more session. Reports on election handouts by the government did not help blue chips or bond prices, which also slipped from recent highs.