keeps upward trajectory

Greek stocks advanced for a second day yesterday, led by National Bank, the country’s biggest.

The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) benchmark index rose 2 percent, to 4,516.81 points as 44 of its 60 constituent stocks advanced and 16 fell. The FTSE/ATHEX 20 index of the country’s largest companies increased 2.2 percent to 2,403.86.

National Bank added 2.8 percent, to –42.96. Hellenic Exchanges, the operator of the Athens bourse, gained 12.5 percent, to –22.50 after NYSE Euronext Deputy Chief Executive Officer Jean-Francois Theodore said he’s considering a tie-up with the exchange.

OTE, the biggest phone company in Greece, added 4.2 percent, to –22.20 after Naftemporiki newspaper reported the company may reduce its work force further.

Metal processor Halcor jumped 11 percent after saying it had bought a controlling stake in copper-pipe maker Sega Bakir for –1 million to expand into Turkey.

Michaniki rose 3.3 percent. Greece’s fifth-largest builder said its Egyptian real estate and tourism unit acquired a plot of land near Egypt’s pyramids for –3.6 million, according to a bourse filing.

Minoan Lines, Greece’s second-biggest ferry operator, declined 4.2 percent. Star Capital Plc, a Cyprus-based holding company, will sell a 27 percent stake in Minoan. (Bloomberg)ATHEX, led by National,