Fourlis

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.

Greek stocks remained under heavy pressure on Thursday, with the benchmark approaching the psychologically significant 700-point mark and closing at the lowest level since mid-November 2017.

The general index fell 1.74 percent to end at 707.77 points.

The large-cap index gave up 1.82 percent and the mid-cap index was down 1.76 percent.

Greek stocks retreated on the Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX) on Wednesday, while turnover was particularly low following a technical glitch.

ATHEX trading was temporarily suspended from 12.45 to 1.40 p.m. due to a general technical problem that affected the price data feed subsystem.

The ATHEX general index ended at 758.04 points, down 0.43 percent from Tuesday's 761.29 points.

Afternoon selling at the Greek stock market offset all of Tuesday morning's gains, leading the main index at Athinon Avenue lower for a fourth consecutive day.

Domestic and international concerns related to diplomatic and trade issues led the majority of stocks to losses at the end of Wednesday's session at Athinon Avenue.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended the session at 746.70 points, shedding 1.44 percent from Tuesday's 755.33 points.

The payment of stock dividends at Athinon Avenue, the negative climate on international markets and the increasing devaluation of the market (through the ongoing Folli Follie saga and the loss of buying interest in mid- and small-caps), led to significant losses for the majority of Greek stocks on Thursday.

There was little movement on the local stock exchange on Wednesday as the rises registered by most European markets and the decline of the Greek benchmark bond's yield failed to impress traders. With two sessions left till the end of the year's first half, banks continued to lose ground. The credit sector's stocks have returned to prices below those of their last recapitalization.

The drop in Greek bond yields and window dressing efforts in the approach to year-end contributed to a healthy rise in stock prices at Athinon Avenue on Wednesday, while two package transactions for Eurobank and Grivalia Properties sent trading volume soaring.

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.

Greek bank stocks broke their losing streak on Thursday - but only just - in a trading session of mixed fortunes which ended with stocks split down the middle between winners and losers.