The benchmark Athens Exchange (ATHEX) index rose for the second time this week, adding 59.39, or 1.4 percent, to 4,344.93 points. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 index of the country’s largest companies, led by banks, added 1.7 percent to 2,273.85.

The banks sectoral index advanced 2.7 percent, with National climbing 4.1 percent to –38.20. Alpha Bank rose 40 cents, or 1.9 percent, to –20.98, the fourth straight advance. Goldman, Sachs & Co maintained its “conviction buy” recommendation on shares of Greece’s third-largest bank, according to a research report. The company is scheduled to report earnings on February 26.

Bank of Attica added 8 cents, or 2.4 percent, to –3.48, climbing for the first time in three days. The bank controlled by the Engineers’ Pension Fund said 2007 net income rose to –20.9 million ($30.8 million) from –900,000 the previous year.

Titan Cement, Greece’s biggest maker of the building material, fell 52 cents, or 1.7 percent, to –30.04, declining for a second day. The share price forecast was cut to –34.20 from –35.60 by analysts at Piraeus Securities yesterday. Citigroup Inc cut its price estimate for the shares to 31– from –34 today. Turnover totaled –341.3 million.

The Cypriot General Index climbed 1.9 percent to 3,889.25. (Bloomberg, Kathimerini)