Terna Energy

Athinon Avenue eased off Monday's 11-month highs on Tuesday, with the benchmark dropping just over 1% on lower trading volume than on Monday. Banks headed south, but energy stocks mostly headed higher again. Observers consider this cashing in of recent gains quite predictable.

Greek stocks recovered somewhat on Tuesday from Monday's slump due to the UK's troubles with the mutation of the coronavirus and the impasse in the Brexit talks, as the benchmark climbed back up to 780 points. However, the level of trading volume indicated that the minds of many were already occupied with the holidays.

The benchmark of the Greek stock market reverted to its northbound course on Wednesday, but once again it ducked back below the 800-point mark before the close, after testing the waters during the session. It will probably take one more final push for the index to reach that level, and with tomorrow seeing the last triple-witching session of the year, anything is possible.

The Greek bourse endured some pressure during Tuesday's trade, but the benchmark only suffered minimal losses, the majority of stocks secured gains and bank stocks continued to rise, although turnover did drop to its lowest level in the last 14 sessions.

Fresh hopes of a Brexit deal on Tuesday gave stocks across Europe a fresh push, with Greek stocks following suit to take the local market's benchmark back up to within striking distance of the 800-point level. Turnover has increased in the last few sessions, this being the last full trading week of the year.

The Greek stock market reversed its morning losses to end the day with some gains in the face of a mixed picture in European markets due to the Brexit-related turbulence. Foreign portfolios continue to take an interest in local stocks - after the net inflow of 14.7 million euros last month - with blue chips rebounding and trading volume topping €150 million.

The Greek stock market appears determined to stretch its November momentum through to the end of the month, as it enjoyed significant gains on Thursday that took its benchmark to a new eight-month high.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 726.92 points, adding 3.08% to Wednesday's 705.21 points. The large-cap FTSE 25 index expanded 3.34% to close at 1,725.52 points.

The international buying spree that on Tuesday took the Dow Jones over 30,000 points in New York contributed to the Greek bourse's main index holding its ground and putting some distance between it and the 700-point mark, despite the profit-taking recorded by most bank stocks.

Bank stocks were back in the driving seat at Athinon Avenue on Wednesday, taking the Greek bourse benchmark to a new three-month high - i.e. its highest since the coronavirus epidemic began in Greece. The 700-point milestone seems to be growing closer, while investors appear to have plenty of disposable cash.

Banking and energy stocks boosted the Greek bourse on the last day of this week, although the benchmark ended up holding onto just a fraction of the gains it had recorded before the closing auctions. Even so its consolidation well above the 600-point mark is a positive omen ahead of next week.