Jumbo

Greek stocks recovered after Wednesday's respite, with the benchmark rising to yet another 13-year high on Thursday, thanks mostly to the growth recorded by a few blue chips and by mid-caps.

The performance of the Greek stock market has got everyone reaching for their record books, as the benchmark at Athinon Avenue climbed to its highest point since May 2011 on Thursday. Banks were again the driver of growth, while some blue chips that have recently recorded major gains experienced some profit-taking at the start of the new month.

A number of blue chips, including banks, attracted significant buying interest at Athinon Avenue on Thursday, with the benchmark rebounding after two days of decline and closing near the day's highs. Still, the rest of the board saw little action, with considerably lower trading volume.

A universal move upwards for stocks in the Greek bourse on Monday led the benchmark to major gains and the daily turnover well above the 100-million-euro mark. The main index has now climbed to levels unseen since the end of last July, while investors are also looking forward to the listing of Athens International Airport that the government has decided.

Stocks slid somewhat at the Greek bourse on Thursday, one day before the end of the trading year, with the benchmark closing near the day's low, which points to the appetite for some more profit-taking on Friday. The session started with gains over the first hour before sellers took the upper hand, leading the majority of stocks into the red.

Wednesday's mixed session at the Greek stock market may have seen the majority of stocks (including banks) decline and the daily turnover revert to more subdued seasonal levels, but the benchmark continued its ascent for a second straight day to climb to levels unseen in 16 weeks, above the 1,300-point mark.

Athinon Avenue returned to its rising course on Tuesday, with the benchmark climbing to a new 15-week high, on the verge of 1,300 points. Banks - especially Eurobank - outperformed, and alongside some other key blue chips lifted the main index to its highest point since September 1.

The Helleniq Energy placement dominated proceedings at the Greek stock market on Friday, accounting for over two thirds of the day's trading. However, the small rise of the main index did not suffice to avert a weekly drop, with banks continuing their decline (with five sessions of losses in the last six) following their previous rally.

The decline of the benchmark at Athinon Avenue continued on Friday for a fourth day in a row, only this time at an accelerated pace and with twice as many stocks declining as those that reported growth. The main index was down by as much as 1.55% at one point during the session, exercising some damage limitation toward the end.

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.