Stocks gained for a second session in a row yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with banks and refineries setting the tone.

The ASE compound share index closed at 4,491.67 points, a gain of 25.05 points or 0.56 percent. During the session, it momentarily went over 4,500 points, peaking at 4,509.92.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index of blue chips gained 0.77 percent to close at 2,440.42 points, while mid-caps and small-caps gained 0.03 percent and 0.75 percent respectively. The FTSE/Athex International gained 0.66 percent, closing at 6,415.45 points.

Eleven of 17 sectoral indices posted gains. The top gainers were oil and gas (up 3.58 percent), utilities (2.13 percent) and health (1.35 percent). The top losers were telecommunications (down 1.26 percent), foods and beverages (1.01 percent) and commerce (0.89 percent).

Among blue chips, the top gainers were refiner Hellenic Petroleum (higher 5.31 percent to 11.10), EFG Eurobank (2.87 percent to 28.70), jewelry and accessories maker and retailer Folli-Follie (2.61 percent to 31.50), Alpha Bank (2.58 percent to 23.90), Public Power Corporation (2.24 percent to 20.04) and refiner Motor Oil (1.16 percent to 19.86).

Turnover reached 355.74 million, including 46.57 million in prearranged trades.