Athens Exchange

Following the trend set by global markets since late on Tuesday, buyers in Athens took advantage of the benchmark's three-day decline on Wedneday, allowing Greek stocks to recover some lost ground. However, trading volume was considerably lower than in the last few sessions.

The massive sell-offs seen on global markets, the euro's drop against other major currencies, the postponement of the seven-year bond issue, and the growing sense that the Greek government is not as stable as had been thought inflicted major losses on local stocks on Tuesday that were eventually contained toward the end of the session.

The declines seen on international markets and the prospect of the seven-year sovereign debt issue, which has resulted in investors shifting their focus away from stocks, led to a session of considerable losses at Athinon Avenue on Monday.

The Greek bourse saw stocks head lower on Friday as a result of pressure on international securities markets over the last couple of days. Trading volume was the lowest in the last four sessions.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 875.38 points, shedding 1.25 percent from Thursday's 886.44 points, but on a weekly basis it slipped just 0.31 percent.

The benchmark of the Greek bourse yo-yoed on Thursday, with early gains wiped out before the closing auctions saw a fresh surge, taking the main index - and the majority of local stocks - higher on increased turnover.

The stress test parameters, which are more conducive to optimism than those of 2015, gave bank stocks a boost in Wednesday's trading session at Athinon Avenue, taking the benchmark's total gains for January to 9.53 percent - its best monthly performance in 20 months.

Jitters ahead of the beginning of the bank stress tests today and the decline seen across eurozone markets led the Greek bourse to losses of more than 2 percent on Tuesday, with the credit sector taking a heavy beating.

The Greek stock market saw buyers take a step back on Thursday, with the market showing a mixed picture after three days of strong gains: Banks and Coca-Cola HBC dragged the benchmark lower, but the majority of stocks ended the day higher.

Shares in Public Power Corporation soared 15.69 percent on Wednesday, and along with ADMIE Holdings' 5.09 percent rise powered the benchmark of the Greek bourse to another day of significant gains, with daily turnover remaining above the 100-million-euro mark. This time banks were mere also-rans in a session dominated by energy stocks.

The decline of Greek bond yields, the rise of the stock markets in Germany and other key eurozone countries and the better-than-expected outcome of Monday's Eurogroup contributed to another day of notable gains for Greek equities on Tuesday, on increased trading volume. The psychologically significant 1,000-point level may not be beyond reach for the benchmark in the coming weeks.