Terna

The Greek stock market picked up the pace again on Thursday, with the benchmark gaining ground on increased turnover, although banks tipped the balance between winners and losers in favor of those that headed lower. Energy stocks are showing notable resilience, which in the view of investors points to a positive outlook for the economy in general.

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.

The Greek stock market closed for Christmas on Wednesday with further gains for most companies, on the strength of the growing prospects of an agreement between Brussels and London over Brexit, although the day's turnover was the lowest in the last 33 sessions. The bourse will next reopen on Monday.

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.

Though few admitted to it, there was much anticipation that Friday's triple-witching session at the Greek bourse would be the one to take the benchmark above the psychologically significant level of 800 points.

Thursday's bourse session was relatively quiet ahead of Friday's triple witching, with some selective profit-taking among blue chips. Stocks were split between winners and losers, with banks showing some significant fluctuations before settling for moderate losses.

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.

Greece received one binding bid for the long-term Egnatia Odos highway concession in the north of the country, privatization agency TAIPED said on Friday.

The bidder was a consortium of GEK Terna with Egis Projects, the agency said in a statement, adding that it would not unseal the bid until a court ruled on an injunction filed by two consortiums.

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.