ATHEX: Banks lead stock rally

Stocks rallied at the Athens bourse on Thursday as the prospect of an agreement between Greece and its creditors drew nearer. The benchmark cleared 600 points and banks earned 7.13 percent.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 601.48 points, adding 1.94 percent to Wednesday’s 590.05 points. The large-cap FTSE 25 index expanded 2.71 percent to end at 166.99 points, with Viohalco soaring 13.45 percent.
In total 60 stocks rose, 24 contracted and 17 stayed put.
Turnover came to 72.9 million euros, down from Wednesday’s 90.1 million.
The general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange in Nicosia declined 0.12 percent to close at 66.94 points.