FTSE/Athex Large Cap

Traders at the Greek stock market chose to cash in on some of their recent gains on Tuesday, with the main index at Athinon Avenue coming off Monday's nine-year high for some moderate losses for the majority of stocks, led by banks. Nevertheless, mid-caps bucked the trend and their index remained in positive territory.

The Greek stock market ended the last week before the general election with gains, which made it the third consecutive week of growth for the benchmark at Athinon Avenue. The market appears calm ahead of the polls, in contrast with what is happening on the other side of the Aegean, while turnover in Athens increased on Friday thanks to maturing of the month's derivatives.

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.

Greek stocks closed their second consecutive week of growth on Friday, approaching the year's highs, though the session offered negligible gains to the main index and the rising stocks outnumbered the losers by the smallest of margins.

Bank stocks once again pulled the index of the Greek bourse higher on Tuesday, even though mid-caps and the majority of stocks suffered losses at the end of a session dominated by selective moves by traders. This sixth consecutive day of growth for the market's benchmark took the latter to its highest level since early March.

The week at the Greek stock market began in the same way it had closed on Friday, with healthy gains for the majority of stocks driven by the growth registered by banks stocks.

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.

For the third day in a row the benchmark of the Greek stock market posted minor gains on Thursday, with blue chips growing and mid-caps shrinking, and the majority of stocks ending up on the losing side. The main index is again creeping up toward 1,100 points, while the daily trading volumes seen this week lag those of previous months.

The closing auctions turned things around at the Greek stock market on Tuesday, at the start of the trading week, offering the benchmark marginal gains despite the majority of stocks ending up in the red. International banking concerns appeared to have minimal impact on local credit sector stocks, while construction companies led the rebound.

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.