Viohalco

The Greek bourse benchmark is steadily approaching the 900-point mark after its advance on Tuesday on considerably increased turnover, mainly thanks to the further decline of Greek bond yields ahead of anticipated credit rating upgrades.

The Greek stock market benchmark edged marginally higher again on Thursday, but the increase in turnover did not translate into a significant advance for blue chips, as their index ended up in the red. Gains for small-caps, on the other hand, led to winners surpassing the losers at the end of the session.

The treasury bill issue that recorded a negative yield for the first time in Greece's history dominated trading at the local stock market on Wednesday, with investors beginning to anticipate a credit rating upgrade for Greece coming sooner rather than later.

The Athens bourse played second fiddle to the Greek bond market on Tuesday, but buyers returned when the benchmark hit a low of 818 points - after the bond's book closed - and by the closing bell the main index's losses had halved.

Stocks continued to decline on Tuesday at Athinon Avenue, as pressure grew, mainly on bank stocks, before easing during the closing auctions.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index ended at 861.50 points, shedding 0.80 percent from Monday's 868.42 points. The large-cap FTSE 25 index contracted 0.79 percent to 2,139.95 points, while small-caps increased 0.22 percent.

Bank stocks led blue chips and the main index of the Greek bourse higher on Tuesday, but smaller stocks recorded minor losses as traders appear to be gradually losing interest in them.

Greece's bourse index came down from a six-week high to record moderate losses on Tuesday, but listed companies are mainly focused on the two-day London roadshow they are launching on Wednesday, with the participation of Finance Minister Christos Staikouras on Thursday. That may also explain the fresh slump in turnover on Tuesday.

Unimpressed by the announcements of European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, traders on the Greek bourse put fresh pressure on stock prices on Thursday, with banks ending the rising course observed over the previous couple of days, in line with most other European markets. The local market appears unhappy with the various announcements about share capital increases.

Fresh pressure on bank stocks inflicted losses on the benchmark of the Greek stock market on Tuesday, while trading volume remained sluggish.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 853.89 points, shedding 0.77 percent from Monday's 860.51 points. The large-cap FTSE-25 index contracted 0.64 percent to end at 2,107.21 points.

Lackluster buying interest on the bourse and the sudden drop in action in the last three hours of the session, after the Athens earthquake, resulted in minor losses for the majority of stocks at Athinon Avenue, but the week still closed with gains.