Economic indicators

Two widely used indicators about managers' and consumers' expectations have reached heights not seen in many months, although a local think tank that compiles them warns that such sentiments could prove ephemeral.

The upward trajectory of the Greek stock market continued for another day on Wednesday, with the increased turnover being the main feature of this fresh session of growth that led the benchmark to yet another nine-year high. The 2% advance of the banks index leaves no doubt about the day's protagonist, with Alpha leading the way up thanks to its favorable corporate results.

Investors unleashed a buying spree at the Greek stock market on Tuesday, after the three-day weekend, with the price growth gathering momentum as the session went along.

Traders reverted to profit-taking at the Greek bourse on Thursday, following morning gains, with refineries and industrial companies being at the focus of sellers this time instead of banks, whose index has been in decline all week. Most of the losses were recorded in the closing auctions, with the benchmark ending the session at the day's low.

Unfazed by news of a German recession and a US credit default threat, the Greek stock market reverted to its upward trajectory on remarkable trading volume on Thursday, recapturing the 1,200-point level, with the help of growth in bank stocks. The universally positive first-quarter results of listed companies also contributed to the price growth.

The main index at the Greek bourse slid back below the 1,200-point level it had captured this week, as on Wednesday it gave up some of the ground earned during Monday's huge rise. 

Banks were at the center of the market's profit-taking, though many mid-caps resisted the pressure and their index fared better than the rest of the market, losing only 0.66%.

The market's growing optimism about political stability in Greece after the elections and the favorable views on Greek banks by foreign firms contributed to a significant rebound of local stocks on Tuesday that sent the Athens benchmark to levels unseen in nearly nine years. The price rise also came with an increase in turnover, which approached 100 million euros.

The main index at the Greek bourse cleared the 1,100-point bar with relative ease on Friday, ending a week of gains and moderate trading volume. This last session of the week showed price growth across the board in what was the fourth consecutive day of gains for the benchmark.

The banking sector shook off foreign and domestic concerns - related to the decline of US lender First Republic and the promise by main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras to nationalize National Bank of Greece if he comes to power - and swung to gains at the end of Wednesday's bourse session, leaving the benchmark with moderate gains.

The Greek stock market returned from the Easter break with more appetite for growth, as on Tuesday its benchmark climbed for the 11th session in a row.