The Athens bourse advanced yesterday as late-session buying helped pull the general index more than 1 percent higher.

The Athens Exchange’s benchmark general index rose 1.03 percent to 1,554.06 points, its second positive finish this week.

Public Power Corporation (PPC) jumped 4.47 percent to 12.16 euros. Betting company OPAP, due to report 2008 earnings on Monday, rose 3.19 percent to 19.38 euros.

Aegean Airlines advanced 2.78 percent to 2.59 euros after its fourth-quarter figures beat expectations earlier this week.

Real estate developer Babis Vovos continued to slide, falling 10.04 percent to 2.06 euros.

Turnover reached 93 million euros versus 155.8 million in the previous session.