Ellaktor

For the third day in a row the benchmark of the Greek stock market closed with losses that affected half the board's stocks. However, on Thursday the turnover was significantly increased compared to previous days. Banks led the decline, with the exception of National Bank, while corporate results continued to dictate the moves of investors.

Wednesday's session at the Greek stock market was a mirror image of the day before, as the main index again posted small losses, while mid-caps outperformed and winning stocks were level with those that declined for a second day in a row.

Blue chips gave up some ground on Tuesday at the Greek stock market, although overall losing stocks matched the exact number of gainers on the day. The benchmark came off Monday's seven-week high with some gains cashed in by traders, while certain non-bank large-caps remained on an upward course for another day.

The main index at the Greek stock market climbed to a new seven-week high on Monday with banks and a few more blue chips leading the rest of the bourse higher on a day of relatively low turnover. The trend of the market remains upward after the previous months' decline, and the year-end window dressing promises even greater gains for local stocks.

A universal push higher by Greek stocks sent the benchmark of the local bourse to a six-week high on Thursday, as it smashed through the 1,200-point level with ease, outperforming most other eurozone markets. This was the fifth consecutive session of gains for the main index at Athinon Avenue, with a notable increase in turnover too.

Geopolitical concerns and US corporate results weighed on the Greek stock market on Thursday, but the benchmark at Athinon Avenue contained its losses toward the end of the session. This is mainly thanks to the flow of positive corporate developments within Greece in the aftermath of the country regaining investment grade.

Tuesday saw the benchmark at Athinon Avenue avoid another decline as it held on to some of its gains and ended the day in the black and on a week-high, albeit on reduced turnover. On Wednesday the Greek bourse is entering the three-day period for the floating of Optima, the first bank to be listed on the Greek stock market since the end of the financial crisis.

Greek stocks suffered yet another slump on Thursday, with their losses growing as the day progressed, with floods in central Greece and the postponement of the prime minister's speech in Thessaloniki not helping stocks recover. Friday's DBRS Morningstar credit rating report on Greece could change all that.

Stocks at Athinon Avenue took a big blow on Monday, as sellers took the upper hand after the first few minutes of the session and proceeded with increasing fervor till the end of the day.

September began at Athinon Avenue with concerns expressed by traders after the first hour related to the global economy and the fear of stagflation. That led the benchmark to losses of almost 1% and a drop below the 1,300-point mark on Friday.