Terna

The negotiations between the GEK Terna group and investment funds of Arab interests, which are now in the driver's seat for the acquisition of Terna Energy, are on a good track, Kathimerini understands.

The concession of the Egnatia Odos highway to GEK Terna for a period of 40 years is expected to be completed in March.

Projects worth 17.1 billion euros are expected to be implemented in the coming years by the four large domestic construction groups GEK Terna, Intrakat, Avax and Mytilineos.

The main index of the Greek stock market ascended close to this week's decade high on Friday, with traders focusing on certain blue chips, although mid-caps underperformed this time. A report by Alpha Finance on Friday pointed to an increase of 15% to 25% for the benchmark of Athinon Avenue this year. In fact it has already gained 5.24% since the year started.

The GEK Terna group added liquidity of 79.2 million euros to its arsenal ahead of the large investments it is expected to implement in the coming years.

The Greek bourse ended its first losing week in more than a month after a mixed session that saw blue chips growing but the main index as well as the majority of stocks shrinking. A number of prearranged packages sent the daily turnover very high, though net trading was rather slow.

Thursday was a historic day for the Greek stock market, as the sixth consecutive day of growth for blue chips and the main index sent its benchmark to heights unseen in almost a decade. The new 10-year record for the bourse came without the support of mid-caps, which declined for a second day in a row. Banks more than made up for that, as they outperformed.

The fifth consecutive session of gains for the benchmark at Athinon Avenue took it to yet another five-month high on Wednesday, although the majority of stocks and the mid-cap index posted a decline. Banks pulled the blue-chip index higher to secure an extension of the growth that profit-takers will seek to capitalize.

A universal move upwards for stocks in the Greek bourse on Monday led the benchmark to major gains and the daily turnover well above the 100-million-euro mark. The main index has now climbed to levels unseen since the end of last July, while investors are also looking forward to the listing of Athens International Airport that the government has decided.

The possibility of an agreement regarding the sale of Terna Energy has been ruled out, at least for the near future, even though just a few months ago a deal with the Australian investment group First Sentier was considered almost certain.