ATHEX: Benchmark advances over 1 pct during this week
The huge swing from contraction to expansion in gross domestic product estimates for the first quarter, along with the favorable climate on most other eurozone markets on Friday, helped the local benchmark maintain its upward momentum from Thursday to end the week on a high. Still, mid-caps fell, as did most stocks.
The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 786.57 points, adding 0.60 percent to Thursday’s 781.85 points. On a weekly basis it improved 1.06 percent. The large-cap FTSE 25 index expanded 0.73 percent to 2,092.99 points, while the mid-cap index shrank 0.56 percent.
Banks rose 1.43 percent, with Piraeus improving 3.90 percent and National jumping 1.84 percent. Mytilineos (up 2.98 percent) and Lamda Development (2.79 percent) were also on the rise.
In total 49 stocks posted gains, 55 took losses and 26 stayed unchanged.
Turnover reached 80 million euros, up from Thursday’s 77.8 million.
In Nicosia the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange declined 0.32 percent to 77.21 points.