ATHEX: Major interest recorded in end-of-session stock auctions
Friday’s closing auctions at the Greek bourse were like a separate session altogether, as they took the benchmark from red to green and saw the day’s turnover almost double. Local stocks ended the week with gains and a 165 percent increase in average daily turnover.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 623.07 points, adding 0.14 percent to Wednesday’s 622.23 points. On a weekly basis it rose a significant 7.74 percent, putting an end to a three-week losing streak.
The large-cap FTSE 25 index expanded 0.54 percent on Friday to end at 182.96 points, while small-caps contracted 1.20 percent, with losing stocks outnumbering the gainers.
Banks had a rather quiet day, but OPAP climbed 4.86 percent, Piraeus Port Authority grew 4.33 percent (ahead of the submission of binding bids for its controlling stake on Monday) and Aegean Air jumped 4.32 percent. PPC declined 5.52 percent.
In total 36 stocks posted gains, 52 headed south and 15 closed unchanged.
Turnover came to 165 million euros at 5 p.m., but closed at 311.7 million 15 minutes later, compared with 260 million euros on Thursday.