Hellenic Exchanges

Greek stocks recovered somewhat on Tuesday from Monday's slump due to the UK's troubles with the mutation of the coronavirus and the impasse in the Brexit talks, as the benchmark climbed back up to 780 points. However, the level of trading volume indicated that the minds of many were already occupied with the holidays.

Thursday's bourse session was relatively quiet ahead of Friday's triple witching, with some selective profit-taking among blue chips. Stocks were split between winners and losers, with banks showing some significant fluctuations before settling for moderate losses.

Bank stocks almost single-handedly secured gains for the benchmark at Athinon Avenue at the start of the week, as other blue chips headed lower. The recent momentum continues unabated though, as also illustrated by the daily turnover level.

The Greek bourse benchmark climbed on Friday to highs unseen since late February after its 11th consecutive day of gains, which were quite handsome too, on the day the third-quarter growth data were issued. Likewise, the Greek benchmark 10-year bond yield reached a new low on Friday, at 0.626 percentage points.

The Greek bourse benchmark advanced for a 10th consecutive session on Thursday, a streak unseen in almost four years, as stocks are now extending November's momentum into December. The index recorded a new ninth-month high - and without the help of bank stocks this time.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 766.82 points, adding 0.97% to Wednesday's 759.47 points.

The profit-taking recorded during Wednesday's bourse session was not enough to avert another day of growth for the benchmark at Athinon Avenue, which has risen to a new nine-month high thanks to the advance of banks and a handful of other blue chips.

The Greek stock market saw in the month of December with another session of robust growth on Tuesday, driven by the four systemic banks. The better-than-expected third-quarter results posted by National Bank gave the credit sector that extra push, which also took daily turnover well beyond the 100-million-euro mark.

Bank stocks continued their advance on Tuesday, while investor attention was focused on the benchmark bond issue, but non-banking stocks dragged the main index lower at the start of this four-day trading week at Athinon Avenue.

Traders had appeared set to cash in recent stock gains at Athinon Avenue on Thursday, but the European Central Bank's announcement that assistance for eurozone member-states would be boosted contained the drop in prices, while the mid-cap index went up.

Bank stocks were back in the driving seat at Athinon Avenue on Wednesday, taking the Greek bourse benchmark to a new three-month high - i.e. its highest since the coronavirus epidemic began in Greece. The 700-point milestone seems to be growing closer, while investors appear to have plenty of disposable cash.