Quest Holdings

The Greek stock market accelerated its growth on Monday, with its benchmark posting gains of almost 2% on the back of growth from most blue chips, including the banks, and despite the rather modest daily turnover. This has taken the main index safely above the 1,400-point mark, after a daily rise unseen in almost five months.

After four sessions of decline for its benchmark, adding up to 4.44%, the Greek stock market rebounded on Wednesday, though not in the fashion that would have offset a significant part of recent losses. The losing streak may have been snapped, but it will take more convincing for traders to revert to the rising course of the month's first half.

Concerns over a possible expansion of the war in the Middle East, with the involvement of Iran, weighed on the Greek stock market, inflicting losses on the benchmark on Friday. Even so, the index narrowly maintained the 1,400-point level and got to close the week with net growth, with turnover also rebounding.

Concerns abroad about a delay in the start of interest rate reductions by the Fed in the US were partly offset by the positive corporate results that are being issued at the Greek stock market, thereby containing the decline on Thursday at Athinon Avenue for most stocks on the board. Nevertheless, the daily turnover was the lowest of the last 11 sessions.

Athinon Avenue started the week's final session with a considerable drop in what has been the second straight week of decline for its benchmark, and saw turnover shrink further on Friday. However, it still managed to cover most of the ground lost over the course of the day to close with contained losses thanks to some of its blue chips.

The decline continued at the Greek bourse on Wednesday, though not as strongly as on Tuesday, with the benchmark yielding more ground. The banks index remained on a southbound course for a sixth consecutive session, underperforming the market and showing that the absence of initiatives or positive news on the domestic front will allow the momentum of the year's first quarter to slip.

A late rally at Athinon Avenue gave the benchmark of the Greek bourse fresh momentum on Thursday, allowing it to easily surpass the 1,400-point barrier and close the day on a high. Non-bank blue chips outperformed, boosting a market that continues to have very high daily turnover levels since the placement of Piraeus Bank shares last week.

Tuesday offered traders at Athinon Avenue an extensive menu for all appetites, ranging from the drop in bank prices, led by Piraeus after the soaring of the stock on Monday, to the rise of most stocks and the mid-cap index. The benchmark came off Monday's 13-year record high to post some losses, while turnover remained at high levels.

The placement of the state's stake in Piraeus Bank deservedly monopolized interest at Athinon Avenue on Monday, and the huge interest generated boosted the benchmark and most other stocks in the market that climbed to new 13-year highs.

Stocks at the Greek stock market continued their mild decline on Wednesday for a second session in a row, with a number of blue chips posting a decline and only a few resisting the pressure that could have brought the benchmark below the 1,400-point mark. The week continues in a quiet mode ahead of next week's expected placement of the state's 27% holding in Piraeus Bank.