Terna

The country's biggest construction groups are positioning themselves ahead of the restructuring of the profitable market of project concession, concerning major roadworks and infrastructure such as highways and bridges.

Fresh concerns over Italy weighed on most European stock markets on Wednesday, leading to losses of over 1 percent for the benchmark at Athinon Avenue, on particularly low turnover. The ongoing saga concerning Folli Follie is not helping the local market at all, and a prosecutor launched an investigation into the case on Wednesday.

The sealing of the staff-level agreement between Athens and its creditors on Saturday helped bring an end to the Greek stock market's five-session losing streak on Monday. The benchmark started the new week with minor gains, although losing stocks outnumbered those that headed north.

Greece on Wednesday prequalified seven investment groups to take part in the second phase of a tender for the administration of the Egnatia Odos highway, privatization agency TAIPED said.

Banks and Folli Follie inflicted fresh losses on the main index at the Athens Exchange (ATHEX) on Tuesday as the pressure continued on Greek bond prices and on international markets, taking the benchmark below the 800-point mark.

The Greek stock market had a mixed session on reduced turnover on Wednesday, as the losses posted by bank stocks were more or less offset by gains registered by construction and industrial blue chips, among others.

For the first time in 2018 the Greek bourse benchmark chalked up five consecutive days of growth, as Wednesday's roller coaster of a session ended with blue chip buyers on top again, lured mainly by bank stocks, which continued to rally. However, the majority of stocks ended the day in the red.

The issue of GEK Terna's new seven-year bond this week was a profound success, with the Athens-listed group raising 120 million euros at a rate of 3.95 percent.

Stocks at Athinon Avenue rose in a more uniform fashion on Tuesday, at one point sending the benchmark as high as the 800-point mark. However, the momentum didn't last, and the main index had slipped back down again by the closing.

Investors finally put an end to the Greek bourse benchmark's nine-session slide on Monday. The rise was led by bank and utility stocks, while mid-caps continued their descent. Trading volume was particularly low.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 790.05 points, adding 0.55 percent to Friday's 785.72 points.