Attica Bank

As the year starts to draw to a close many funds have either stopped trading their securities or are engaging in some window dressing, boosting their performance. This serves to explain the growth seen on the local bourse on Friday, after progress in the third review had already been priced in.

The seventh consecutive session of gains for the benchmark of the Greek stock market on Friday confirmed the positive momentum as it was in the latter half of the day that buyers made their presence felt, boosting banks by another 4.75 percent.

Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras is a trusted member of the European Central Bank's Governing Council who has worked hard for Greece's benefit, ECB head Mario Draghi said on Monday in response to a question at the European Parliament about the probe into the Greek central banker in connection with the alleged leaking of the conclusions on Piraeus Bank and Attica Bank.

The Greek stock market's banks index slumped to its lowest point in a year on Monday, sliding 4.19 percent on prolonged uncertainty regarding the launch of foreclosures, the handling of bad-loan portfolios and the possibility of yet another recapitalization. This, along with Coca-Cola HBC's drop, led the benchmark lower for a sixth consecutive day.

The Greek bourse had a mixed picture on Thursday - in anticipation of any concrete results from the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron - with stocks split down the middle between winners and losers. However the trading volume was significantly improved.

Figures showing a moderate economic recovery in the second quarter of the year didn't make a great impression on investors at the Greek bourse on Friday, as the majority of local stocks headed south on low trading volume.

Attica Bank plans to increase its share capital by 150-200 million euros, according to reports on Thursday. However, a proposal by the bank's management for the appointment of a strategic investor has caused friction within the government.

The signs during the second day of August trading at the Greek bourse were very encouraging, despite the drop in turnover, as the reduced number of investors still searching for some midsummer profits at Athinon Avenue appear convinced things are looking up in the market after a period of decline in previous weeks.

Tax payers opting to settle their debts to the tax services over bank counters will be charged with an extra commission as of Friday, July 28. The decision by the Independent Public Revenues Authority was published in the government gazette on Tuesday. The decision also determines the charges that the public revenue authority will pay per transaction at banks for taxes.

The main index of the Greek stock exchange posted yet another 28-month high on Friday, as investors saw the majority of stocks increase in price and confidence, presenting significant opportunities in the recently stabilized economy in Greece.