Stocks declined yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange, as selling pressure on bank shares continued.

The ASE compound share index closed at 4,191.96 points, a drop of 19.88 points or 0.47 percent. The FTSE/Athex 20 index of blue chips declined 0.84 percent to close at 2,289.50 points, while mid-caps and small-caps declined 0.35 percent and 0.32 percent, respectively. The FTSE/Athex International declined 0.76 percent, closing at 6,001.21 points.

Ten of 17 sectoral indices declined. The biggest gainers were foods and beverages (1.28 percent), telecommunications (0.89 percent) and chemicals (0.36 percent). Top losers were banks (down 1.48 percent), media (1.31 percent) and technology (1.25 percent).

Among blue chips, the biggest gainers were jewelry and accessories retailer Folli-Follie (2.49 percent to 27.96 euros), games of chance software and hardware maker Intralot (2.52 percent to 25.26 euros) and mobile telecommunications firm Cosmote (2.32 percent to 21.20 euros). By contrast, the biggest losers were Alpha Bank (less 3.47 percent to 22.82 euros), Piraeus Bank (1.82 percent to 22.40 euros) and National Bank (1.69 percent to 33.72 euros).

Turnover reached 825.17 million euros, including 520.01 million in prearranged trades dominated by the placement of a 5.21 percent stake in Alpha Bank at 22.75 euros per share.