FTSE

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.

Stocks went up, then down, and eventually - in the closing auctions - back up, during Thursday's session of the Greek bourse. Traders appeared reluctant to bring the benchmark closer to the 1,400-point level, as they obviously need a pretext for a solid recovery, following the recent decline.

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.

The imported concerns, such as the losses at the start of the Wall Street session, the growing tension in domestic politics and the recent fatigue of buyers led Greek stocks to a significant decline on Tuesday after the four-day recess.

March proved to be the first month of decline - albeit marginal - after four months of growth for the benchmark of the Greek stock market, which dropped just 0.17% from end-February. In the last session of the local bourse ahead of the four-day recess, most stocks posted gains despite the decline of the banks index.

Stocks continued their decline on Wednesday at the Greek stock market, led by banks, which had traders cashing in some of the last few weeks' gains. Turnover was significantly reduced compared to Tuesday. 

A short trading week of just three days has started at the Greek stock market with a moderate decline for the benchmark and the majority of stocks, though a number of blue chips responded to pressure and rebounded. Turnover also showed signs of significant recovery on Tuesday, after one more long weekend and ahead of another.

After a tight session at Athinon Avenue, the main index of the Greek stock market closed on Friday with small losses that were not enough to offset all of the gains it had recorded over the course of the week.

The prospect of interest rate cuts in the US and Europe boosted markets in the eurozone and sent the Greek bourse benchmark higher on Thursday. Despite receiving little support from the usual suspects - i.e. the banks - the main index and that of blue chips gained more ground, confirming that despite the temporary cashing-in efforts, traders have a bullish attitude for the long term.

The Greek stock market rebounded on Wednesday, driven mainly by Piraeus Bank and other lenders, but the daily turnover showed a significant decrease from the previous days, which is partly explained by the simultaneous reopening of a state bond.