GEK

Developments in the banking sector, mainly regarding nonperforming loans, gave bank stocks at Athinon Avenue a significant boost on Tuesday as buyers made a comeback, bolstering the bourse benchmark in the process and taking daily turnover back above the 50-million-euro level.

Greek stocks retained on Monday their southbound course set last week, with the benchmark losing just over 1 percent and trading volume remaining low, following the warning by Moody's that the global economy appears headed toward a slowdown.

The Greek stock market shook off international concerns regarding oil prices and a US-Iran standoff and posted some healthy gains in the second half of the week's first session, on improved trading volume too.

A long-delayed clear-up of burned branches and dead wood left behind by last year's catastrophic wildfires in Mati, eastern Attica finally began on Friday. 

Units from Greek contractors GEK Terna, Ellaktor, Metka and Avax dispatched trucks to haul away the wood from a plot of land next to Marathonas Avenue, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Akis Skertsos announced on Friday.

The Greek stock market grew at the same pace on Wednesday as it did on Tuesday, building on the rise of PPC's stock and the further improvement of Greek bond positions. The benchmark appears ready to test the 900-point level after a very long time.

Much as Public Power Corporation's stock jumped on Monday on the announcement of the government's plan to prop up Greece's main utility company, the stock market showed a mixed picture at the end of trading, with gainers outnumbering losers, while the benchmark slipped below 865 points.

The Greek stock market was no exception to the rule in most eurozone bourses on Monday, where investor skittishness resulted in moderate losses and low trading volumes. Local traders may also be waiting for today to position themselves in the new seven-year Greek bond.

Despite a decline among banks, the vast majority of stocks ended up on the winning side on Thursday, with the benchmark advancing for a second day in a row, albeit marginally this time.

Traders booked recent profits on Monday at Athinon Avenue, selling the confirmation of the government change in Athens, though the suspension of trading for the OPAP stock generated rumors and concerns about the course of one of Europe's biggest gaming companies.

Greek contractor GEK Terna said on Thursday it has teamed up with US casino operator Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment to bid to build a casino inside a planned 8-billion-euro tourist resort on the Athens coastline.