Eurobank

The pressure was back on stocks at Athinon Avenue on Tuesday, as market concern over Italy is intensifying and local banks remain an easy target for trader speculation.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 681.17 points, shedding 1.47 percent from Monday's 691.30 points. The large-cap FTSE-25 index contracted 1.19 percent to 1,796.06 points.

The closing auctions at the end of Monday's trading session in Athens wiped out all the gains registered over the course of the day and took the benchmark back into negative territory. Trading volume was very low as traders remain skeptical about the local market.

Kathimerini understands Greek banks have made a pledge to the European Central Bank's Single Supervisory Mechanism that they will cut their nonperforming exposures (NPEs) to 17-22 percent of their portfolios by 2021, compared to today's highs of 43-54 percent.

The bank stock slump has gone on for too long and valuations are now exceptionally low, say senior credit sector officials. However, analysts questioned on the issue by Kathimerini say the problems that Greek lenders are facing will not be overcome quickly, justifying the pounding the sector has sustained on the Athens stock exchange.

News of the further easing of the capital controls and the continuing decline of Greek bond yields on Thursday helped the benchmark at Athinon Avenue remain above the 700-point mark for a second day in a row and notch up moderate gains in the process.

The benchmark of the Athens bourse managed to top 700 points on Wednesday after 12 sessions below the psychologically important level, as the situation at Folli Follie became clearer and Greek bond yields continued to ease. This time it was non-bank blue chips that drove the main index and turnover higher.

The Greek stock market made a remarkable recovery on Tuesday with the benchmark ending up just below the 700-point mark. The recent selling spree at Athinon Avenue, the decline in Greek bond yields and the relative euphoria on foreign markets set the stage for a stock surge but the relatively poor trading volume didn't give it the power required to clear the psychologically important level.

Trader disappointment on Monday over Moody's decision not to issue its verdict on the Greek economy last Friday, amid the general negative mood in markets due to the mutual tariffs on US and Chinese goods, put fresh pressure on most local stocks, with the low turnover mirroring investor reluctance.

The September triple witching and the restructuring of the FTSE indexes saw most Greek stocks posting healthy gains on Friday on a daily turnover of more than 100 million euros, leading to a weekly rise for the benchmark.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 698.74 points, adding 2.60 percent to Thursday's 681.03 points. On a weekly basis it advanced 2.50 percent.

The messages coming from the 13th Annual Greek Roadshow in London appeared to take a toll on bank stocks on Thursday, as they were hit with fresh losses, while investors will be keeping an eye out during September's triple witching on Friday as it is considered a key indicator regarding the market's course over the medium term.