Athens Stock Exchange

The Greek stock market's banks index continued its decline on Monday, posting a 3.52 percent drop to a three-month low and weighing heavily on the bourse's benchmark and the blue chip index, on what was a day of international market unrest due to concerns over North Korea.

Figures showing a moderate economic recovery in the second quarter of the year didn't make a great impression on investors at the Greek bourse on Friday, as the majority of local stocks headed south on low trading volume.

Most Greek stocks gave up ground on Thursday, but the benchmark edged higher again on gains by power-packing blue chips including ADMIE, Mytilineos and Alpha Bank.

The benchmark of the Greek bourse recovered some ground from Tuesday's 1.88 percent sell-off, with investors reflecting on a series of wide-ranging issues from North Korea and the Brexit negotiations to local banks' first-half financial results.

Many traders have evidently left for their summer vacations, as turnover at the Greek bourse was particularly low on Friday, but those left behind at Athinon Avenue nudged the benchmark higher at the end of the week on a day of mild growth for most blue chips.

A mixed bag of a session at the Greek bourse on Thursday produced little change in stock prices, although turnover did improve.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 825.80 points, shedding just 0.03 percent from Wednesday's 826.02 points.

The signs during the second day of August trading at the Greek bourse were very encouraging, despite the drop in turnover, as the reduced number of investors still searching for some midsummer profits at Athinon Avenue appear convinced things are looking up in the market after a period of decline in previous weeks.

The benchmark of the Greek bourse regained some much needed ground on the first day of August, following a few sessions when sellers had the upper hand. It was helped by reports on economic sentiment in Greece and from Morgan Stanley. Still, the recovery was contained during the closing auctions.

The Greek bourse ended July with a monthly decline of 1.40 percent for its benchmark, mainly due to the drop recorded on Monday that was led by bank stocks. Tuesday's session is seen as crucial because a lack of reaction by buyers will signify a further drop in the medium term.

The crisis may have battered the local economy but has benefitted to a great extent the Greek stock board's quality: For the first time since 1997 the number of ATHEX-listed companies is below 200, at 197.